ABSTRACT
This chapter continues the theoretical perspective of the book by explaining how the new ethics paradigm is consistent with discourse in clinical ethics and organizational ethics. The purpose of the chapter is to lay the foundations for applying this new ethics paradigm to governance ethics in healthcare organizations. That is, the ethics paradigm provides a robust framework for examining the established fields of clinical ethics and organizational ethics as well as the emerging field of governance ethics. Instead of discussing ethical theories and principles, the ethics paradigm provides a framework for applied analysis that does not require formal ethics training or expertise. The framework of the ethics paradigm focuses on the concepts of identity (reflecting who we are), accountability (reflecting how we function), and quality (reflecting what we do). This framework highlights the importance of organizational stewardship, participative decision-making, and best practices in both clinical ethics and organizational ethics. This approach provides a sound basis for the emerging field of governance ethics in healthcare organizations.
