Which statement would a nurse include when describing utilitarian ethics?

Which statement would a nurse include when describing utilitarian ethics?

• A. The value of something is decided by its usefulness.
• B. The focus is on the intent of the actor rather than outcomes.
• C. The greatest good for the greatest number of people determines the right action.
• D. The means always justify the ends.

Answer: (C)

Utilitarian ethics evaluates actions by their consequences and seeks to maximize overall well-being. The statement about the greatest good for the greatest number captures that idea precisely: the right action is the one that produces the most benefit for the most people. In nursing practice, this approach guides decisions when resources are limited or when a choice affects many patients, such as triage or prioritizing interventions to achieve the greatest overall benefit. By focusing on outcomes rather than intentions, utilitarian ethics differs from approaches that judge actions by duty or rules. It also avoids the absolutist notion that the ends always justify the means, since real-world application weighs actual benefits and harms. Valuing something by usefulness alone isn’t the full ethical assessment; utilitarianism centers judgments on increasing welfare rather than just labeling something as merely useful.

Utilitarian ethics evaluates actions by their consequences and seeks to maximize overall well-being. The statement about the greatest good for the greatest number captures that idea precisely: the right action is the one that produces the most benefit for the most people. In nursing practice, this approach guides decisions when resources are limited or when a choice affects many patients, such as triage or prioritizing interventions to achieve the greatest overall benefit. By focusing on outcomes rather than intentions, utilitarian ethics differs from approaches that judge actions by duty or rules. It also avoids the absolutist notion that the ends always justify the means, since real-world application weighs actual benefits and harms. Valuing something by usefulness alone isn’t the full ethical assessment; utilitarianism centers judgments on increasing welfare rather than just labeling something as merely useful.