BIOETHICS

by: Maria B. Jocelyn RN, MAN

Learning Objectives:

After the teaching learniing hours, the students

will be able to

1. Define common terms and principles of modern bioethics.

2. Discuss why bioethics needs to be integrated through

conscious design in order for the health care provider to
deliver ethical care.

3. Appreciate the importance of ethics in modern medicine in

todays culturally diverse health care environment
 As a practical science

Deals with a systematized body of

knowledge that can be used, practiced and
applied to human action.

Considers the usefulness, practicality and

application of human knowledge to ones
experience, as distinguished from
theoretical knowledge, which is simply
interested in truth for its own sake, without
any bearing on action and experience
As a normative science
Establishes norms or standards for the
direction and regulation of human
actions.
As based on reason
Investigates the facts, analyzes them
and draws out practical applications to
particular actions.
Does not subscribe or rely on divine
revelation for final answers or
resolutions of certain moral issues.
Morality
Morality is what people believe
to be right and good, while
ethics is a critical reflection
about morality.
Law

Laws are brought about by tension,

agitation and conflict by dramatic
situations.

Laws are societal rules or

regulations that are obligatory to
observe.
Comparing Law and Ethics
Law, ethics, and bioethics are different but
related concepts.
Laws are mandatory to which all citizens
must adhere or risk civil or criminal liability.
Ethics relate to morals and help us
organize complex information and
competing values and interests to formulate
consistent and coherent decisions.
BIOLOGY
It is a branch of knowledge that
deals with living organisms and vital
processes

HEALTH ETHICS
It is a science that deals with the
study of the morality of human
conduct concerning health and health
care which pertains to medical
services, nursing care and all other
types of health services given by
health practitioners who engage in
any duly recognized form of health
care practice.
 BIOETHICS bios (greek)= life
First used by biologist Van Rensselaer
Potter referring to a new field devoted to
human survival and an improved quality
of life.
It is the science that deals with the study
of the morality of human conduct
concerning human life in all its aspects
from the moment of its conception to its
natural end.
 It is a branch of applied ethics which
investigate practices and developments
in life sciences and biomedical fields

Deals with life, health and death that

have resulted from modern biological
technology (e.g., biomedical engineering
and genetic therapy), particularly the
way they have affected human values
 DISTINCTION RELATIONSHIP DISTINCTION
BIOETHICS AND HEALTH ETHICS
(BIOETHICS) (HEALTH ETHICS)
Concerned not just Both are concerned Concerned about
about health but also about health and life life only in relation to
about other fields in health
relation to life

Regulates human Both regulate human Regulates human

conduct not only in the conduct by means of conduct in the
practice of health care moral principles in practice of health
but also in all aspects relation to health and care
of human life life

Bioethics is not a part

of health ethics but Health ethics is a
has an encompassing part of bioethics
scope of discipline
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
It is an applied type of ethics in so
far as it deals with certain moral
precepts or rules by which persons
behave and act in the exercise of
their calling or profession.
Ethical Dilemma
Value conflicts, no clear
consensus as to the right thing to do.
A conflict between moral obligations
that are difficult to reconcile and require
moral reasoning.
Situations necessitating a choice
between two equal (usually undesirable)
alternatives.
Ethical Issues in Modern Healthcare

In modern healthcare and research, value

conflicts arise where often there appears to
be no clear consensus as to the Right thing
to do.
These conflicts present problems requiring
moral decisions, and necessitates a choice
between two or more alternatives.
Examples:
1.Should children with serious birth
defects be kept alive?
2.Should a woman be allowed an
abortion for any reason?
3.Should terrorists be tortured to gain
information possibly saving hundreds
of lives?
Deontology /Nonconsequentialism:
Derived from the Greek word, Deon,
meaning duty. Considers that some
acts are right or wrong independent of
their consequences. Looks to ones
obligation to determine what is ethical
and answers the question: What should
I do and why should I do it?
Ethical Theories: Ideas and Actions
1.Deontology (duty)
2.Consequentialism (actions)

3.Virtue Ethics/Intuition (morals and

values)
Beliefs
Rights Ethics (individuality and the
American culture)
Deontology: A duty
Example: Nelda, a practitioner, believes
she has a duty to give cardiac clients
detailed information on the pathology
involved in their condition even though
the client has indicated that they are not
ready or may be terrified to hear the
information causing the client distress.
Consequentialism:
Also called Teleological, Greek word,
Telos, meaning end or consequence.
Actions are determined and justified by the
consequence of the act.
Consequentialists consider all the
consequences of what they are about to do
prior to deciding a right action. This also
answers the question: What should I do and
why should I do it?
 Consequentialism: Action
Example:
Had Ana respected the wishes of her
clients, she would have given them only the
information which would have been a
benefit to them and not caused them undue
stress. She would have been motivated by
her desire to do good (beneficence), rather
than her sense of duty. This is a
Deontological betrayal.
Utilitarian Ethics: Considers the greatest
good for the largest number of people.
Also answers the question: What should I
do and why should I do it?
Intuitionism: Resolves ethical dilemmas
by appealing to ones intuition, a moral
faculty of a person which directly knows
what is right or wrong. (A gut feeling of
knowing what is right).
DIVINE REVELATION
refers allegedly to certain knowledge
revealed by God to humans, knowledge
which we cannot fully understand but
which we have to accept as true
because God said so, and because we
know that God can neither deceive us
nor be deceived by us.
Religionist contends there can be no
morality without God
Ethicians maintains that morality
remains possible even without God.
 It is employed to regulate human
conduct in the practice of health care
for the reason of ensuring that the
purpose of health care which focuses
on
1. alleviation of suffering,
2. prevention of sickness

3. promotion of health is being met in the light

of the fundamental principles of morality.
Virtue Ethics: Contrary to
other ethical theories, virtue
ethics tells us what kind of
person one ought to be, rather
than what they do. The focus is
on the character (goodness) of
the person.
Two questions when faced with a
dilemma

Behavior: What should I do?

Motivation: Why should I do it?
The Identity Argument
Premise 1: What is understood to be
morally right depends (at least in part) on
ones identity as a moral person.
Premise 2: Ones race ethnicity and culture
is central to ones identity as a moral
person.
Conclusion: Thus, what is understood to be
morally right by an individual depends (at
least in part) on that persons race,
ethnicity, and culture.
Thank you for Listening!!!