GSDMSFI: Bioethics

INTRODUCTION TO
ETHICS
Ms. Rajjirine Kate Tumala
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of the discussion, the students are
expected to:

1 Define ethics and differentiate between morals

and ethics

2 Discuss major concepts in ethics

3 Identify ethical issues in the fields of bioethics,

health ethics, and professional ethics

4 Explain the role of ethics in health care

 WHAT IS ETHICS?

Definition of Ethics, Difference of Morals and Ethics, Branches of

Ethics, Bioethics, Health Ethics, Professional Ethics
 Definition of
Ethics
1 Study of morality using the tools and
methods of philosophy; "moral philiosphy"

Seek to know whether an action is right

2 or wrong, bad or good for individuals and
society
 Difference between
Morals & Ethics

1 Morals - personal, internal, dependent on

individual

Ethics - societal rules, external,

2 dependent on profession and legal
guidelines
 3 Main Branches
of Ethics
1 Meta Ethics - investigate

2 Normative Ethics - establish

3 Applied Ethics - apply

META-ETHICS
Investigates the origin and meaning of ethical
principles

"What does it mean for an action to be right?"

"What does it mean for a person to be good?"

Focus: issues of universal truths, existence of a

supreme being, the role of reason in our
beahavioral choices
NORMATIVE ETHICS
Establishes normal ethical standards of behavior
based on meta-ethical principles

"Is the principle of autonomy justified?"

"What does it mean for a person to be good?"

Addresses issues like: what habits should people

aspire, obligations of individuals to others,
consequences of one's behavior and choices
APPLIED ETHICS
Application of ethical principles to real world
situations

Emphasizes on controversial issues such as:

abortion, animal rights, environmenal concerns,
capital punishment, etc.

Answer moral questions that confront people every

day that relate to a particular professional field
 PARTICIPATION

Why do you think Ethics is important?

 BIOETHICS
Applied ethics focused on issued brought about by
1 advances in scientific and medical technologies

Guide to choices faced in medical research and treatment

2 of patients especially when advanced technology is
involved
Aims to maintain respect and protection of the
3 individual

4 "Should animals be used in biomedical research?"

SCOPE OF BIOETHICS

biotechnology, including cloning, stem

cell therapy, life extension, human
genetic engineering,use of animal models
in research and manipulation of basic
biology through altered DNA, XNA and
proteins
 HEALTH ETHICS
Applied ethics focused on health care, medicine,
1 and science

Focused on issues: decisions about enf-of-life care,

2 allocating funds to treatment of disease/promotion of
health, critically examining health status in
populations and ethical obligations, ensuring ethical
conduct in health research

3 "Should severely impaired newborns be given life-

prolonging treatment or be allowed to die?"
 PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Applied ethics that govern all professional codes
1 of conduct

Many professional ethics codes describe the character

2 traits that define high character, or what could be
called virtues

Universal ethical principles: honesty,

trustworthiness, loyalty, respect for others,
3 adherance to the law, accountability, doing good,
and avoiding harm to others,
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

"The goal of professional ethics is to

arrive at a caring response in situations
you encounter in the course of carrying
out your professional role and its
functions."
PARTICIPATION
What do you think is the most
important virtue that should guide
professional ethics?
References
Edge, R.S., & Groves, R.G. (2019).
Ethics of Health Care: A Guide for
Clinical Practice. Taguig City, PH:
Cengage.

Vaughn, L. (2019). Bioethics:

Principles, Issues, and Cases.
Oxford University Press.

Doherty, Regina F. & Ruth B.

Purtilo. (2016). Ethical Dimensions
in the Health Professions. 6th ed.
St. Louis: Elsevier Inc.
CLASS DISMISSED!