intro to bioethics Flashcards
(36 cards)
Bioethics in Greek
Bios - life
Ethos - ethics or behavior
It is a branch of morality that deals with human conduct, focusing on what is right or wrong, good or bad and the principles that guide individuals in making moral decisions.
Ethics
Brief history
400BC:
Hippocratic oath
1927:
Paul Max Fritz Jahr publish his work Bio-Ethics: A review of the ethical relations of humans to animals and plants
(Discuss the importance of life in all creations)
1970:
Van Rensselaer reviews the term “bioethics”
True or false:
Overtime, bioethics acquired different elucidations and definitions worldwide
True
[People around the world have come to understand and explain bioethics in different ways.
As time passed, different countries and cultures came up with their own ideas and definitions of what bioethics means, depending on their values, beliefs, and experiences.]
What does bioethics focus on in medical practice?
ethical implications of medical practice, especially in regard to the preservation of human life
[focuses on the ethical questions doctors face, like saving lives or making hard choices about treatment]
What role does science and technology play in bioethics?
ethical issues that result from technological and
scientific advances, especially in biology and medicine
[new advances in biology and medicine create new ethical problems that bioethics helps to solve]
In what areas does bioethics apply?
healthcare
medicine
research
biotechnology
environment
What kinds of questions does bioethics ask?
philosophical, social and legal issues arising in medicine and the life sciences.
it is defined as a philosphical discipline that deals with the study of morality of human conduct in relation to health in particular and to human life in general.
bioethics
- assist healthcare providers in reaching sound decisions before introducing medical interventions
what are the basic and major bioethical principles
BASIC
* Stewardship Principle
* Totality Principle
* Double Effect Principle
* Principle of Cooperation
MAJOR
* Principle of Respect for Autonomy
* Principle of Beneficence
* Principle of Non-maleficence
* Principle of Justice
Embodies a concept that steward has the obligation to take good care and improve a thing or asset entrusted to him/her
Stewardship Principle
- a medical standpoint, humans are entrusted with their bodies and have the obligation to preserve and develop it
ex: medical technologist, being a steward of his/her profession, has the obligation to participate in advancing and developing this vocation.
[means that if something is trusted to you, you have a duty to take care of it and even make it better.
we have a responsibility to keep our bodies healthy and improve them, not harm them.]
All the parts of the human body as parts are meant to exist and function for the good of the whole body.
Totality Principle
- Parts of the physical entity are ordained to the good of the physical whole
- It’s a classic criterion in dealing with concerns about mutilation, organ donation, and transplantation while preserving the sanctity of life
[each part of the body exists to help the whole body stay healthy and function properly.
so, if something is done to one part (like removing or changing it), it should only be done if it helps the whole body or protects life.]
ex: If a person’s leg has a severe infection that could spread and kill them, doctors may amputate the leg to save the person’s life.
When is organ donation allowed under the Totality Principle?
only way to help a patient with a serious need
*even if donation reduces “anatomical integrity”, it should not diminish the “functional integrity” of the person
in totality principle, what does “risk should be proportionate to the good” mean?
risk to the donor should match the big benefit to the recipient
What is needed from the donor before organ donation?
free and informed consent
it is permissible to cause harm as a side effect of bringing out a good result even though it would not be permissible to cause such a harm as a means to bringing about the same good end.
double effect principle
[means that sometimes it’s okay to cause harm as a side effect, as long as the main goal is to bring about a good result.
however, it would not be okay to cause that harm on purpose to get the same good result.]
ex: If a doctor gives a patient strong medicine to relieve pain, but the medicine might also shorten their life, this could be okay under the Double Effect Principle.
The good result (pain relief) is the main goal, and shortening life is just a side effect that isn’t intended.
what are the 4 conditions in applying the double effect principle
- That the action in itself from its very object be good and at least indifferent.
[action itself must be good or neutral] - That the good effect and not an evil effect be intended.
- That the good effect be not produced by means of the evil effect.
- That there be proportionately grave reason for permitting evil effect.
[harm should be allowed only if the good result is very important and outweighs the harm]
it differentiates the action of the wrongdoer from the action of the cooperator
principle of cooperation
[there’s a difference between the person who does something wrong (the wrongdoer) and the person who helps or cooperates in some way (the cooperator).
even if the cooperator helps, they are not the same as the wrongdoer, but their level of involvement in the wrongdoing can vary]
briefly explain the types of principle of cooperation
Formal Cooperation:
- Willing participation on the part of the cooperative agent in the sinful act of the principal agent.
[a person fully agrees to help with a sinful act. they knowingly and willingly participate in the wrongdoer’s bad action.]
Material Cooperation:
- When the cooperator does not intend the object of the wrongdoer’s activity but actively
participating in the deed by which the evil is performed.
[ a person helps, but doesn’t intend to do anything wrong. they may be involved in the action but don’t want or plan for the bad result. they’re just involved in the process, not the goal]
Greek word of Autonomy
autonomos - “self-rule” or “self determination”
briefly explain Principle of Respect for Autonomy
- Healthcare professionals should respect the autonomous decisions of competent adults.
- Ability of a person to give consent after due information of medical intervention.
- Minors: Exercised by parents, guardians or representatives
what are the health legislation that contains s Principle of Respect for Autonomy
Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act
Newborn Screening Act
briefly explain Principle of Beneficence
- Health care should do good
- Reflects the fact that medical interventions must be beneficial to the patient.
- In Medical Technology, clinical laboratory science shall be used to promote life and benefit humanity
[ex: A medical technologist performs accurate blood tests to help a doctor diagnose a disease early, so the patient can get treated right away. This is beneficence because the lab work is helping the patient get better.]
briefly explain Principle of Non-maleficence
- Health-care professionals should do no harm.
- “Primum, non nocere” - found instructions of the Hippocratic oath Harm or injury may be committed maliciouslty (dolo) or by means of fault (culpa).
- Resulting acts from fault or cupla are negligence and imprudence.
[healthcare professionals must not cause harm to patients]
