"What ethical perspectives most inform your view of how doctors should act?"

Medicine is an inherently moral enterprise. The doctor’s primary duty is to do the best they can for their patient by acting in the patient’s best interests.Kantian deontological theories can be applied here, with the idea that morality is about fulfilling our duties, with no or little regard to "making us happy". This accords with common sense and accurately reflects moral obligations. See "Duties of a Dr" by the GMC... "Knowledge, skills and performance, safety and quality" etc. This is important to follow as it ensures that the care of the patient is our first concern, and not necessarily the care of ourselves. However the motivation to fulfil a duty can be questioned if emotions are not involved, especially as medicine is a very emotive field, and empathy is central to medical practice. A consequentialist or utilitarian view would be that doctors should act in a way to generate the most happiness. "Greatest happiness for the greatest number". This principle is applied directly in the NHS with regards to resource allocation. A cost benefit analysis style is taken: QALYs (quality adjusted life years) which is even handed, fair, lives are given equal value. However, arguments against include: Happiness is not simple, unquantifiable, relative. Can we make moral decisions with a calculation. Disregard for individual rights – considering everyone as a whole. Can disregard minority groups of people.