eminist theory is a relative newcomer as a source of ethical theory and represents a diverse range of social and political viewpoints. However, all formulations of feminist theory are concerned with the "private sphere" while also committed to ensuring that the dimensions of politics, economics, and power be included in any ethical analysis. Rooted in the historical devaluation of the female experience in Western philosophy (Jagger, 2001), feminist ethics is predominantly concerned with the imbalance of power and the exposure and elimination of oppression for women and other disadvantaged groups. The term disadvantaged refers generally to any group with diminished power in relation to the larger social system. Groups that can be seen to have diminished power within the health care system include women in general, racial and ethnic minorities (both males and females), the elderly, children, the poor, and the disabled.

The basis on which a group might be considered oppressed can vary considerably. For example, in the health care context the strong history of research bias towards white men as research subjects has left women, children, and many racial minorities underrepresented and at risk with respect to many standard medical treatments. In another vein, feminists point out that the laws regulating female reproductive rights remain embedded in legal and economic systems in which the majority of decision-makers are still men. Yet another source of disadvantage is demonstrated by the fact that women and ethnic minorities are more likely to be poor, less educated, and uninsured or under-insured -- all of which diminish a person's power within the health care system.

Feminist ethics does not rely on moral principles per se, arguing that the commonly cited principles are too abstract to be useful in the context of human relationships. Instead, actions are generally viewed in relation to their effect on the quality of relationships among people with an emphasis on considerations of justice and the concept of caring.