Sjukvårdens metoder bör analyseras ur ett etiskt perspektiv.

Many methods exist for ethical analysis guiding decision-making. This essay presents only one method. Both facts and values are employed with this method and, as an example we use a Swedish preventative measure for individuals who abuse narcotics. The ethical analysis presupposes good knowledge of the case at hand and the approach recommended is a combination of stakeholder analysis and decision matrix analysis. In applying the model, stakeholders are identified and the ethical principles are formulated to identify the ethical costs and benefits. To balance the costs and benefits good medical judgement is needed. But now and again this approach is not enough. The method may be in need of some form of supplementary analysis, which, for instance, could be the use of similar cases, situation ethics and virtue ethics.