In this article, we engage with a theory of management advanced by MacIntyrean scholars of business ethics and organization studies to develop an account of “chronic moral injury” in the workplace. In contrast to what we call “acute moral injury,” which focuses on grave, traumatic events, chronic moral injury results from poor institutional form—when an individual desiring excellence must function within a vicious institution that impedes the acquisition of virtues and marginalizes practices. In other words, chronic moral injury occurs when (...) practitioners who pursue excellence in their practice work within corrupt or malformed organizations. To demonstrate this point, we recount the events associated with the rise and fall of the biotech company, Theranos. This case study advances an empirical contribution to MacIntyrean studies by demonstrating how chronic moral injury can happen under such conditions and what the negative consequences may entail for workers. (shrink)

This chapter explores the impact of “bureaucratic individualism” and profit-centered models on the medical profession, specifically examining Chronic Moral Injury (CH-MI). Drawing on Alasdair MacIntyre’s philosophy and Farr Curlin and Christopher Tollefsen’s critique of the Provider of Services Model (PSM) in healthcare, we argue that the erosion of practical reason—a key element for pursuing excellence in the profession—has dire consequences. Within the PSM, the focus on consumerism and radical patient autonomy hampers medical professionals’ ability to make value-informed judgments, contributing to (...) CH-MI and a crisis of purpose. The chapter calls for redefining healthcare models to prioritize human flourishing over corporate interests. (shrink)

This chapter demonstrates the role that displacement can play in generating moral injury (MI) within refugee communities. To better understand the consequences of displacement, it considers how individuals’ identities and values are formed through their local communities. While there are many reasons that displacement ought to be understood as a potentially morally injurious experience (PMIE), particular attention is given to the negative effects of disorientation, which are associated with displacement. The chapter uncovers multiple facets of disorientation, such as despair, confusion, (...) and apathy. Understanding the morally injurious consequences of displacement marks an important first step toward better serving refugee communities, particularly those citizens of Ukraine who have been forced to flee their homes in the wake of Russian aggression. (shrink)