What is Bioethics?What is Bioethics? EthicsEthics- examining and understanding - examining and understanding choiceschoices..

The discipline dealing with what is The discipline dealing with what is goodgood and and badbad, , and with moral duty and obligation.and with moral duty and obligation.

The principles of conduct governing an individual or The principles of conduct governing an individual or group.group.

EthicEthic – A set of moral principles and – A set of moral principles and valuesvalues.. ““Individual Ethic”Individual Ethic” – Your – Your personalpersonal view of view of

what is right and wrong regarding a specific what is right and wrong regarding a specific issue.issue.

Ethics deals with what “Ethics deals with what “ought to beought to be” not with ” not with ““what iswhat is”!”!

What is Bioethics?What is Bioethics?

BioethicsBioethics- studies - studies rightright and and wrongwrong in the life sciences. in the life sciences. MedicalMedical: Dealing with doctors’ : Dealing with doctors’

role, medical research, human life.role, medical research, human life. EnvironmentalEnvironmental: Dealing with : Dealing with

nature, habitats, and population.nature, habitats, and population. Social SciencesSocial Sciences: Dealing with : Dealing with

human nature and behavior.human nature and behavior.

History of BioethicsHistory of Bioethics Medical EthicsMedical Ethics

Centuries old discipline.Centuries old discipline. Numerous codes of conduct, including the Numerous codes of conduct, including the

Hippocratic OathHippocratic Oath (“first, do no harm…”) (“first, do no harm…”) Bioethics emerges in the 1960’s.Bioethics emerges in the 1960’s.

Medical technology advances:Medical technology advances: Kidney dialysis, Organ transplantation, Abortion, The Kidney dialysis, Organ transplantation, Abortion, The

Pill, shift toward death in hospitals.Pill, shift toward death in hospitals. Rise of Environmentalism:Rise of Environmentalism:

Silent Spring (Rachel Carson)Silent Spring (Rachel Carson) Cultural Changes:Cultural Changes:

Civil Rights, FeminismCivil Rights, Feminism

Bioethics is MultidisciplinaryBioethics is Multidisciplinary Philosophy & Religion:Philosophy & Religion:

Rooted in Tradition.Rooted in Tradition. Medicine:Medicine:

Traditional roots.Traditional roots. Personal and Social concerns.Personal and Social concerns.

Social & Policy Sciences:Social & Policy Sciences: Legal, social, political, & policy concerns.Legal, social, political, & policy concerns.

Biology/Ecology:Biology/Ecology: Environmental sciences.Environmental sciences. Scientific understanding of life.Scientific understanding of life.

What does a bioethical issue What does a bioethical issue look like?look like?

It is a It is a controversialcontroversial issue. issue. It relates to life sciences.It relates to life sciences. The question could be asked;The question could be asked;

““Should”……… or “Is…… ethical”Should”……… or “Is…… ethical” Example: Example:

““Is abortion in the 2Is abortion in the 2ndnd trimester ethical? trimester ethical? ““Should women in their 2Should women in their 2ndnd trimester of trimester of

pregnancy be allowed to have abortions?pregnancy be allowed to have abortions?

Bioethical QuestionsBioethical Questions Moral Questions:Moral Questions:

Private choice vs. Public standards.Private choice vs. Public standards. Personal Questions:Personal Questions:

What kind of person should I be…What kind of person should I be… What are my duties and obligations to What are my duties and obligations to

others…others… What do I owe to the common good…What do I owe to the common good…

Bioethical QuestionsBioethical Questions

Bioethical questions involve Bioethical questions involve moral conflictmoral conflict:: Moral conflict is a problem that Moral conflict is a problem that

requires a choice.requires a choice. The consequences of the choice The consequences of the choice

are are painfulpainful no matter what action no matter what action you take.you take.

Moral BehaviorMoral Behavior Moral Behavior- an individual or Moral Behavior- an individual or

group’s interpretation of what is an group’s interpretation of what is an acceptable action or choice.acceptable action or choice. Example: A young women suffers a Example: A young women suffers a

massive stroke and is kept breathing massive stroke and is kept breathing only with a ventilator.only with a ventilator.

Issue: “Should the ventilator be shut Issue: “Should the ventilator be shut off?”off?”

Moral Conflict and BehaviorMoral Conflict and Behavior Perspectives: ways of viewing the Perspectives: ways of viewing the

world from a different lens “putting world from a different lens “putting yourself in someone else's shoes”.yourself in someone else's shoes”. FamilyFamily DoctorDoctor Insurance companyInsurance company

Values influence choices. When values are on opposite ends decisions become sources of conflict.

Key Bioethical ConsiderationsKey Bioethical Considerations

How do you define “How do you define “GoodGood”?”? GoodGood- varies across groups and - varies across groups and

societies.societies. Culture, religion, gender, and Culture, religion, gender, and

generation gaps influence what one generation gaps influence what one considers good.considers good.

Different perspectivesDifferent perspectives

Key Bioethical ConsiderationsKey Bioethical Considerations

UtilityUtility Assess costs or risks vs. benefits.Assess costs or risks vs. benefits.

Financial costs & benefits.Financial costs & benefits. Social or moral costs & benefits.Social or moral costs & benefits.

Measure “good” to promote the greatest Measure “good” to promote the greatest happiness for the most people.happiness for the most people.

Key Bioethical ConsiderationsKey Bioethical Considerations

BeneficenceBeneficence: The practice of : The practice of good deeds.good deeds. Refraining from harm.Refraining from harm. Actively doing good.Actively doing good. Limits to beneficence:Limits to beneficence:

Duty to self.Duty to self. Feasibility (limited human capacity).Feasibility (limited human capacity).

Key Bioethical ConsiderationsKey Bioethical Considerations AutonomyAutonomy (Self-Determination) (Self-Determination)

Freedom to follow one’s own will.Freedom to follow one’s own will. ““Good” defined by the recipient of an action, Good” defined by the recipient of an action,

rather than by the actor.rather than by the actor. Individuals think and choose for themselves.Individuals think and choose for themselves.

Our autonomy is limited by many factors.Our autonomy is limited by many factors. Legal, cultural, religious, traditional, Legal, cultural, religious, traditional,

financial.financial.

Key Bioethical ConsiderationsKey Bioethical Considerations

Autonomy thought exercise.Autonomy thought exercise. Imagine a wealthy woman with a Imagine a wealthy woman with a

painful, terminal illness, painful, terminal illness, considering assisted suicide.considering assisted suicide. How might her choice be affected by:How might her choice be affected by:

Her culture & religion.Her culture & religion. Her familyHer family

Key Bioethical ConsiderationsKey Bioethical Considerations

Autonomy thought exercise.Autonomy thought exercise. Imagine yourself alone on an Imagine yourself alone on an

island. How would your behavior island. How would your behavior be different with no other people be different with no other people around?around?

Key Bioethical ConsiderationsKey Bioethical Considerations ValuesValues: Ideas or images that : Ideas or images that

explain why something matters to explain why something matters to us.us. Positive vs. negative values.Positive vs. negative values. Organic values: Life, health, vigor…Organic values: Life, health, vigor… Moral values: Rights & duties.Moral values: Rights & duties. Values & Action: We act to promote Values & Action: We act to promote

our values.our values. Shared values are required for a Shared values are required for a

society to exist.society to exist.