Which ethical theory judges actions as right or wrong based on duties or rules rather than outcomes?

• A. Teleological
• B. Deontological
• C. Utilitarianism
• D. Virtue ethics

Answer: (B)

Actions are judged right or wrong by whether they align with moral duties and rules, not by the outcomes they produce. This approach—deontology—holds that certain duties, such as telling the truth, keeping promises, and respecting patient autonomy, are binding in themselves, regardless of what might happen as a result. The rationale is that some actions are intrinsically wrong or right because they violate universal obligations, not because they lead to better or worse consequences. In practice, clinicians follow these duties even if a different choice could seem to yield a better outcome in a single situation, because the obligation to uphold motives and principles carries moral weight beyond consequences. This contrasts with teleological or utilitarian perspectives, which evaluate actions by their results, and with virtue ethics, which focuses on character and whether a person’s actions express virtuous dispositions rather than adherence to rules.