Final answer:
The four main moral values in global health are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice, which guide healthcare professionals in acting ethically. Care ethics and Mohist ethical theory also reinforce the significance of benevolence and care. Health professionals must respect patient values while advocating for disease prevention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four most popular moral values that inform people's actions in global health are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. These values guide medical professionals to respect individuals' rights to make decisions about their own health (autonomy), to do good (beneficence), to do no harm (nonmaleficence), and to ensure fairness in the distribution of health resources (justice). In the context of ethical dilemmas, such as when educating patients about HIV or other diseases, health professionals must balance these moral principles with respect for the diverse cultural and moral values of their patients.
One approach to resolving ethical conflicts is care ethics, which emphasizes traits like compassion and kindness and encourages understanding different perspectives to make informed decisions collaboratively. Similarly, Mohist ethical theory underscores the importance of benevolence and care, advocating for social stability and welfare through concern for others.
The responsibility of health professionals is not to promote their personal moral agenda but to advocate for practical disease prevention while maintaining respect for their patients' individual values. By aligning with these moral values, professionals can fulfill their ethical obligations and contribute to achieving broader health goals such as the Millennium Development Goals set by the WHO.