A perfect duty is an obligation and a promise to not do something, while an imperfect duty is a virtuous action that is not always required.(Fisher,11) Kant states that a perfect duty always takes precedent over an imperfect duty. In Peter’s case, the doctor’s have a perfect duty to keep all his test results strictly confidential. By not sharing his information the doctors fulfill this duty. On the other hand,they also have an imperfect duty to warn his extended family about their possible genetic condition.The doctors would have to actively break confidentiality and search for Peter’s family to fulfill this duty. As previously stated, imperfect duties are secondary to perfect duties hence the doctors can not share the results of Peter’s genetic
A perfect duty is an obligation and a promise to not do something, while an imperfect duty is a virtuous action that is not always required.(Fisher,11) Kant states that a perfect duty always takes precedent over an imperfect duty. In Peter’s case, the doctor’s have a perfect duty to keep all his test results strictly confidential. By not sharing his information the doctors fulfill this duty. On the other hand,they also have an imperfect duty to warn his extended family about their possible genetic condition.The doctors would have to actively break confidentiality and search for Peter’s family to fulfill this duty. As previously stated, imperfect duties are secondary to perfect duties hence the doctors can not share the results of Peter’s genetic