2. WHAT IS ETHICS?
Branch of philosophy that studies the rightness 0r
wrongness 0f human actions.
OR
A branch of knowledge that deals with the moral
principles.
OR
Principles of conduct.
3.
4. WHAT IS BIOETHICS?
“ Bio means life” and “ethics means custom or moral
values”
Bioethics is the application of the principles of ethics to
the field of medicine and healthcare.
Is concerned with the ethical issues that arise from the
emergence and development in the life sciences such as
biotechnology and medicine.
Bioethicists seek to develop ethical guidelines and
principles to navigate complex issues in the field of
medicine and biomedical researches.
5. HISTORY OF BIOETHICS:
Term “bioethics” was introduced in 70s by
Van Rensselaer Potter for a study aiming at
ensuring the preservation of biosphere.
History dates back to ancient times
Modern bioethics emerge in the mid-20th
century due to the raised ethical issues as a
result of advancement in research and
medical technologies.
6. HISTORY OF BIOETHICS
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:
1. Nuremberg trail after world war II by Nazi regime.
2. Concept of brain death in 1960s ,led to the formation of ethical
committee and ethics of organ donations.
3. Karen Ann Quinlan case in 1970s led to national debate about right
to die and the ethics of life-sustaining treatment.
4. Human genome project in 1980s and 1990s , advancement in
biotechnology raised issues ,such as cloning and genetic engineering led to
the discussions about the ethics of genetic testing ,based on genetic
information.
7. TYPES OF BIOETHICS:
Medical ethics: which focuses on issues in health care e.g.
organ donation , abortion etc.
Research ethics : which focuses on issues in the conduction of
research e.g. cloning
Environmental ethics : which focuses on issues pertaining to
the relationship between human activities and environment e.g.
pollution
Public health ethics : which address ethical issues in public
health e.g. pandemic
8. PRINCIPLES/PILLARS OF MEDICAL
ETHICS:
There are four major principles of medical or bioethics :
BENEFICENCE : principle requires that healthcare provider
and researcher act in best interest of their patients or
subjects’
NON-MALEFICENCE : to do no harm and minimize risks
associated with medical treatment or procedures.
AUTONOMY : freedom to choose freely the type of
treatment .
JUSTICE : ensuring fairness and treat all patients equally
9. ETHICAL ISSUES:
ABORTION :removal of fetus from a women’s uterus
EUTHANASIA: act of purposefully ending a life to
eliminate untreatable suffering.
EUGENICS: type of DNA manipulation that creates
selective breeding to improve human race.
HUMAN CLONING :scientific production of an
identical human cell, tissue or entire body.
STEM CELL RESEARCH : capable of multiplying
themselves by mitosis into wide range of specialized
cell.
10. SCIENCE , RESEARCH AND ETHICAL VALUES:
Science , research and ethical values are
interinked.Science relies on research to expand
knowledge and understanding, but it must be conducted
within ethical boundaries to ensure the well-being of
individual and society.
Ethical values guide the process of research ensuring that
it is conducted with integrity , respect for participants
and consideration for potential consequences.
Ultimately, the relationship between science, research
and ethical values is symbiotic , with each informing and
shaping the other in progress and moral responsibility.
11. IMPORTANCE OF BIOETHICS:
Bioethics education for medical students and healthcare
workers getting important day by day due to :
Medical policies and patient rights legislation are ever-
changing
Health care systems function differently than before.
Clinical practice now involves decision-making about many
new issues.
High technologies not only brought us hopes of cure but
have also created a heavy economics burden.
12. CASE ANALYSIS : 01
A physician has 5 patients , each in need of a different
organ and will die without that organ. Unfortunately ,
there are no organs available to perform any of these 5
transplant operations.
A young man who just got hit by trolley , is brought in to
ER. In the course of assessing his injuries which are not
life-threatening if treated immediately , the doctor
discovers that his organs are compatible with all 5 of his
dying patients.
Would it be justify for a physician to let the patient die to
harvest his organs for the other 5 patients ?
13. Case analysis :2
Singapore has 7% GST and people get free medical
treatment , but Indian do not get it despite paying 28%
GST .
Parents forced to watch helplessly as 64 children and
babies die at an Indian hospital as oxygen supplies is
suddenly cut off due to over and unpaid bill.
Is it justified ?
