I read Travis’s article about “Virtue Ethics,” and his words made me smile. He captured the essence of why I have long supported virtue ethics. It’s not about memorizing rules or counting outcomes. It’s about who we become each time we enter a room where someone is sick, scared, or alone. It reminded me of the quiet bravery we see every day in medicine. The kind that doesn’t seek applause. A student speaking up for a dismissed patient. A resident choosing compassion over convenience. A physician taking an extra minute to listen, even when the hour is late. These small moments shape us. They slowly carve out the person we are working to become.
His “Virtual Dr. Beyda” defense made me smile a little, but it also touched me. He understands that medicine is messy, uncertain, and human. We make decisions in the gray areas. Virtue ethics gives us space to breathe, reflect, and grow. It recognizes that we’re works in progress, learning by watching others and by picking ourselves up after tough days. Flourishing isn’t a finish line we cross. It’s how we move through life, caring well, failing sometimes, and trying again with a softer heart.
I appreciate him taking the time to sincerely consider this approach to ethics. It gives me hope. If our next generation views the field as curious about character and eager for integrity, then our patients are in good hands.
Dr. David Beyda, MD
Dr. Beyda was appointed Chair and Professor of the Department of Bioethics and Medical Humanism in 2013. He is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, where he also directs the Ethics Theme, as well as the Global Health Program.