Ethical Frameworks

Various approaches have been proposed to undertake clinical ethics case consultations in a structured way. On these pages, you will find some examples of ethical frameworks that you might wish to adopt when advising on cases.

This section is designed to help you to differentiate between different frameworks, and then to consider how the main frameworks might be applied, in a practical way.

If you are joining a clinical ethics service, such as a Clinical Ethics Committee, you will likely find that the committee adopts one of these frameworks, or a variation of it. If not, you might want to consider implementing one of these frameworks to shape case consultation work on your committee.

Introduction

Introduction to different types of ethical frameworks and the value of using a framework:

Why to use a framework
Ethical questions
Types of framework

Examples of frameworks

Examples of ethical frameworks for use by clinical ethics services:

Four principles
Four quadrants
Ethox structured approach
ABC toolbox

Click here to download a PDF with further information about ethical frameworks, including worked-through examples of how each of the different frameworks would approach the ethical analysis of a case.

Book your place at the 2026 UKCEN Conference and Workshop, hosted by Cardiff and Vale UHB Clinical Ethics Committee.

 

We partner with the Institute of Medical Ethics (IME), an organisation which is dedicated to improving education and debate in medical ethics. Visit the IME website.