aetcom manual

1. The Four Pillars of Bioethics
A Framework for Ethical Decision-
Making in Healthcare

2. What is Bioethics?
• - Bioethics is the study of ethical issues in
medicine, biology, and healthcare.
• - It provides guidelines for decision-making
in medical practice and research.
• - The four pillars of bioethics serve as
foundational principles.

3. The Core Principles of Bioethics
• The four key principles are:
• 1. Autonomy – Respecting patients' rights to
make their own decisions.
• 2. Beneficence – Acting in the best interest of
the patient.
• 3. Non-Maleficence – Avoiding harm to
patients.
• 4. Justice – Ensuring fairness in healthcare
distribution.

4. Autonomy: Respect for Patient
Choices
• - Autonomy means allowing patients to make
their own healthcare decisions.
• - Patients have the right to refuse or choose
treatments.
• - Healthcare providers must respect patients'
values and beliefs.

5. Informed Consent in Autonomy
• - Patients must be given all relevant
information before making a decision.
• - This includes risks, benefits, and alternative
options.
• - Informed consent is required for medical
procedures, surgeries, and research.

6. Challenges to Autonomy
• - Some patients may lack decision-making
capacity (e.g., unconscious patients).
• - Ethical dilemmas arise when a patient’s
choice may lead to harm.
• - Legal and ethical guidelines help navigate
these situations.

7. Beneficence: The Duty to Help
• - Healthcare professionals should always act in
the best interest of patients.
• - This includes providing high-quality
treatment and preventive care.
• - Doctors must weigh risks and benefits in
medical decisions.

8. Beneficence in Medical Practice
• - Vaccinations and screenings help prevent
diseases.
• - Encouraging healthy lifestyles benefits
patients.
• - Doctors may need to intervene when a
patient makes harmful choices.

9. Conflicts Between Beneficence and
Autonomy
• - Sometimes, a patient refuses treatment that
would benefit them.
• - Example: A patient refusing a life-saving
blood transfusion due to religious beliefs.
• - The balance between respecting autonomy
and promoting well-being is crucial.

10. Non-Maleficence: Do No Harm
• - Healthcare providers must avoid causing
harm to patients.
• - This includes avoiding unnecessary risks and
side effects.
• - Ethical guidelines help minimize harm while
maximizing benefits.

11. Examples of Non-Maleficence in
Medicine
• - Avoiding overprescription of opioids to
prevent addiction.
• - Ensuring medical procedures are safe and
necessary.
• - Preventing medical errors and misdiagnoses.

12. When Harm is Unavoidable
• - Some treatments have unavoidable risks
(e.g., chemotherapy side effects).
• - The goal is to minimize harm while achieving
the best possible outcome.
• - Doctors must communicate risks clearly with
patients.

13. Justice: Fairness in Healthcare
• - Justice in bioethics ensures equal treatment
for all patients.
• - Resources should be allocated fairly, without
discrimination.
• - Healthcare access should be based on
medical need, not personal factors.

14. Ethical Dilemmas in Justice
• - Who gets priority for organ transplants when
supply is limited?
• - How should healthcare be distributed in low-
resource settings?
• - Justice requires balancing societal needs with
individual rights.

15. Healthcare Equity and Justice
• - Addressing disparities in healthcare access.
• - Ensuring marginalized groups receive
adequate medical care.
• - Ethical healthcare policies must promote
fairness for all.

16. Applying the Four Principles
• Scenario: A terminally ill patient refuses life-
saving treatment.
• - Autonomy: Respect the patient’s choice.
• - Beneficence: Ensure they receive palliative
care.
• - Non-Maleficence: Avoid unnecessary
suffering.
• - Justice: Provide equitable care to all patients.

17. The Importance of Bioethics
• - The four pillars help guide ethical decisions in
medicine.
• - Ethical dilemmas require balancing these
principles.
• - Healthcare professionals must uphold ethical
standards to maintain trust.