In terms of physician-assisted suicide, Virtue Ethics emphasizes which of the following?

• A. The doctor's character and intention in acting
• B. A strict rule against killing regardless of context
• C. Universal happiness calculations
• D. Policy and law alone

Answer: (D)

Virtue Ethics centers on the moral agent’s character and the intentions behind an action. In physician-assisted suicide, it asks what a virtuous physician would be like in this situation—someone guided by compassion, integrity, humility, and practical wisdom to discern what best honors the patient and the professional role. The focus is on whether the doctor’s motive and character align with virtuous practice, not on rigid rules, overall consequences, or merely following laws or policies. So the emphasis is on the doctor’s character and intention in acting.