ETHICS

DR. LIONEL E. BUENAFLOR

Head-Social and Behavioural Sciences Department
Head-Batangas Heritage Center
University of Batangas
 Part 2: The Act

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The New-Found Use of the Placebo Effect
To keep patients from being addicted to certain pain
medications like morphine, most doctors would prescribe
alternate dosage of morphine and plain normal saline solution.
Both will create a cessation of pain sensation, morphine
exerting its pharmacotherapeutic effect and the normal saline
creating a psychological effect to the patient thinking that it
was morphine being injected.

In a surgical unit of a certain hospital, a nurse found a new

application of the “Placebo Effect.”

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The New-Found Use of the Placebo Effect
Nurse Lucky was a newly-hired registered nurse in the surgical
unit of a hospital. He was hired immediately because of his
brother who is a nurse superior for five years of that hospital.

He was being oriented on the floor by his senior nurse. His

senior nurse told him that some of his patients in their floor
will ask for pain medications a lot but pain medications are not
given liberally because of its addictive properties. They
sometimes administer NSS solutions as placebo for morphine.
The senior nurse demonstrated how placebo is carried out and
administered to their patients. He was instructed to do it
under the prescription of a doctor.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The New-Found Use of the Placebo Effect
One of his duty days one night, Lucky decided to do an extra
effort of cleaning the nurses station in line with the 5s
program of the hospital. As he began his task, he found vials
of pain relievers and IV antibiotics under the sink.

The medicines were not expired, so he wondered why it was

kept under the sink. He also found out that these medicines
cost P2,000 per vial. He decided to place it back under the
sink and decided to ask his senior nurse later about it.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The New-Found Use of the Placebo Effect
One day, a patient’s relative approached him and asked
where he can find Lucky’s brother. Lucky asked him why
and introduced himself as his brother. The patient’s relative
then said “Good that he is your brother. Will you kindly
hand him over these three vials of medicines I bought from
him at half the price. My sister, who is in the surgical unit,
would no longer use it because she died this morning.
Kindly ask him if I could get a refund because I really need
the money to arrange internment.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The New-Found Use of the Placebo Effect

Lucky was in a shock when he heard the patient’s relative.

He remembered the medicines he found the other night.
He looked for it under the sink and it was no longer there.
When he asked the senior nurse about it, he replied:
“Just pretend you did not see it. Everybody is doing it
anyway. Welcome to the club.”
Lucky could not quite comprehend what his senior nurse
was talking about. He decided to investigate.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The New-Found Use of the Placebo Effect
He found out that there are some nurses who do not
administer these expensive medications as ordered. They
administer instead a placebo even if it was not ordered by
the physician.
They also charge the patient with the medicine even
though they administer placebo.
These extra vials are kept and later sold to other patients
who need it at half the price. The money is then divided
among those who are involved.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The New-Found Use of the Placebo Effect
These occurrences are not recorded in the medication audit
being conducted by nurse supervisors because the nurse
supervisor for their floor is no other than his brother who is
also involved in the case.
Lucky confronted his brother, he has this to say: “If it were
not for these activities that I am doing, you would not have
gone to college and graduate as a nurse. . . So just keep
your mouth shut because no one else had benefited more
from this than you.”

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The New-Found Use of the Placebo Effect

Lucky was dumbfounded. He does not know whether he

would just keep silent and join the group to protect his
brother and earn more too or make noise and make it
known to the detriment of his brother to whom he owes a
lot.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause

After graduating from college, Ernie Pascual went on

job hunting. It was not difficult for him though to land
a job because of his admirable credentials. He
graduated with honors in the premiere university in
the country. He is a born leader with high ideals and a
good set of values.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause
Among the several companies offering him a job, he chose
the position of a Project Development Assistant in Realty
Holding, Inc. (RHI), a real estate developer.
The job seemed challenging with a lot of feasibility and
project development studies to make. Although the
remuneration package offered is not that attractive, the
career path presented to him was clear.
He was deeply involved in the project of RHI in Bulacan. He
assisted in the acquisition of the 40 hectare property in
Casipit. Young as he is, he has been a good help in the
project.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause
When the development of the property commenced, he
became a member of the 3-man team tasked to secure
government licenses, clearances and certification necessary
to start the project.
They dealt with the barangay captains, the municipal
government and other national government agencies for
the vital licenses.
Ernie never imagined that dealing with the government
would be a very arduous task. One day, he approached the
municipal Mayor’s office with all the documents necessary
to support their application.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause
Upon his arrival, he was asked to return because the Mayor
cannot sign the papers immediately. The secretary said
that the application would still be evaluated and verified
according to their proceedings.
Months have passed and the management is already
impatient with the release of the clearance. Finally, when
Ernie called the Mayor’s office, he was informed that he
should see the Mayor for the clearance.
He arrived at the Mayor’s office early. Again, the secretary
asked him to wait for the Mayor to arrive at 9AM.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause
While waiting for the Mayor to arrive, he saw the secretary,
the other assistants and some bystanders chat about some
people’s lives during office hours.
Soon, more people entered the Mayor’s office. Some clad in
decent clothes but what caught his attention are the people
in shabby clothes waiting for the Mayor together with him.
He waited until 10AM when the Mayor arrived. Since he
was the first to arrive, he was given the priority to see the
Mayor.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause
In the Mayor’s office, he introduced himself and his
company. As he spoke, he noticed a certain glow in the
eyes of the Mayor. When he finished, the Mayor did not
sign the clearance but asked him to go back tomorrow at
7AM, not to his office but to his house not so far from the
municipal hall.
He was also asked to bring with him preferably someone of
higher authority. He went back to the Makati office and
reported to his supervisor and other team members the
Mayor’s request.
The next day, Ernie and his manager went to the Mayor’s
house at exactly7AM as requested.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause
He noticed that that very early in the morning, many
people, mostly in shabby clothes, were gathered outside
the Mayor’s house.
Not long after, Ernie and his manager were asked to go
inside the house. They were assisted by the helper to the
dining room. It looked like a meeting room but he was
surprised to see a table prepared for at least 15 people.
Soon the Mayor walked into the room with a full smile.
Ernie noticed that the Mayor is holding the folder of their
application with the clearance inside. It was already ready
for his signature.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause
The conversation started with the Mayor’s expression of full
support to the project in his place of jurisdiction. He was
even encouraging more developers to enter in Casipit as
they will not only help improve the amenity of the
municipal but also increase the value of the land.
Slowly, he went to discuss the issuance of the clearance.
He went to say that “I will help you earn your money
through your real estate project and I hope you will help me
too.”
“Many townspeople are depending on me for their needs.
You could see people waiting outside my house this early in
the morning.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause
These are people who are asking money from me… for their
child who is sick, for their spouse or child who is dead and is
waiting burial, for their child who needs education or even
job.
You can name all reasons why they need money—even for
wedding reception—people will go to me for financial aid.
How can I turn them down?
If I will not help them, they will accuse me of being ‘ingrato’
(or walang utang na loob) and unfaithful to his
constituents.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause
“But if I did, they will ask for more even if I give them
enough. I feel like if I give them my hand, they will get my
whole body instead.
If I stop, they will say bad things about me. But you see,
what can I give them? I am just an ordinary person. I have
nothing much.
So I am asking you to help me finance their needs. You also
have to think about the farmers who will be displaced by
your project. Definitely, they will come to me for help when
they have already used up the funds you gave them.
So, is P10.00 per square meter of the land subject to the
clearance good enough?”

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause
Ernie and his manager were startled. The amount of
P10.00 per square meter of land will translate to a huge
P4M as representation expense!
They left the Mayor with a promise that they will bring the
issue to higher management for decision.
On their way back to the office, Ernie and his manager were
both quiet trying to digest the essence of their conversation
with the Mayor. They were already pressed for time, as the
other clearances will start from the Mayor’s clearance.
What makes the matter worst was that they have not
anticipated the representation expense and did not include
in their budget approved by management.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 For a Worthy Cause

Nonetheless, they have to report the proceedings of the

meeting to higher management. But should they
recommend the payment of the P4M to the Mayor? What
should they do?

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
INTRODUCTION
• In the dualism of the mind and body, the reconciliation can be
found in the heart.
• Sharing can be of several levels:
Superficial: “tsismis”
Intellectual: sharing of ideas
Gut level: sharing of feelings
• Feeling and thinking are distinct but intertwined. We say “I think”
when really mean “I feel” and vice versa.
• But the two are distinct, e.g., we do not say “I think I am lousy
today” nor “I feel my answer to the quiz is correct.”

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
COMMON ATTITUDE TOWARD FEELING: AMBIVALENT

• As rational beings, we tend to look down on feeling. We

screen out feelings because they are unstable, feeling; we
must not be overcome by our strong feelings.
• Yet we also hate cold, detached people, people with no
feelings. And when we teach, we teach with feelings, with
passion.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
WHAT IS FEELING?
1. “To feel is to be involved in something” in a person,
concept, myself, process, problem, another feeling.
Feeling can be in the foreground or background:
“I am involved in SOMETHING” (Background).
“I am INVOLVED in something” (Foreground).
• Most of the time, feeling is in the background unless intense.
• As involvement, feeling is an interiorization of the world.
• Feeling is the most immediate, spontaneous link and
response to the world than thinking.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
WHAT IS FEELING?

2. Feeling is more immediate because it involves the BODY.

More expressed and expressible in body language
(smile, frown) than in concepts
To control feeling is also to control EXPRESSION of
feeling
But here, we do not conceal the fact that we feel but
what we feel: e.g., “crying in the inside but laughing at
the outside.”
A genuine smile is different from plastic smile.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
WHAT IS FEELING?

3. More INTIMATE than thinking

Our feelings give the MAIN information to WHAT we are

and our RELATION to the world.

That is why, Feelings are more difficult to hide than

thinking.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
WHAT IS FEELING?

4. Object of feeling: VALUE

E.g., knowing that smoking causes cancer is different
from feeling it
E.g., knowing that there is a need to help the poor is
different from feeling it.
Intensity of feelings indicate different valuations: unlike
thinking, feelings are valuations of facts.
But it is not your feelings that are right or wrong but your
choices, actions that spring from value-preferences.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
IMPORTANCE OF FEELINGS

1. Unless I am aware of my feelings, I do not know what I

am involved in.
2. Need to share my feelings, because feeling is connected
with the body, and the body relates us to others.
3. Need to share the feelings of others, because feelings
reveal intimate core of persons.
Confidentiality is important when one shares his
feelings.
4. Emotion invites action, because feeling sees values.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
MAX SCHELER’S PHENOMENOLOGY OF FEELINGS

• Emotional aspects of consciousness, like feeling,

preferring, loving and hating, are a priori, immediate
relations among objects called values.
• Feelings cannot be controlled or managed arbitrarily; they
can be controlled or managed only indirectly, by
controlling their causes and effects (expressions, actions).

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
MAX SCHELER’S PHENOMENOLOGY OF FEELINGS

STRATIFICATION OF FEELINGS
1. Sensible feelings or feelings of sensation
2. Feelings of the lived body or feeling states, and feelings
of life as functions
3. Psychic feelings
4. Spiritual feelings (feelings of the personality)

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
MAX SCHELER’S PHENOMENOLOGY OF FEELINGS
• Only spiritual feelings are in essence intentional, meaning,
it is directed to an object, a value.
• Psyching feelings, feeling-states and sensible feelings may
or may not be directed to a value.
• In my striving or willing, the following components are to
be found:
1. Feelings directed towards a value
2. Feeling state from which striving and willing issue
forth
3. Feeling which accompanies execution of willing and
striving.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
PHILOSOPHY OF VALUE
• Values are a particular class of ideal objects.
• Values are objects of our feelings. Mind is blind to values
just as eyes are blind to sounds and ears deaf to colours.
• Values are qualities different from goods or carriers of
values.
• In essence, values are objective, eternal and immutable.
• Independent of subject, though related to it, and of social,
historical, contingent factors of situation. These can be
carriers of values.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
PHILOSOPHY OF VALUE
• Values are also independent of subjective emotional states.
• They are also independent of our striving, though they form
the basis of our ends or striving.
• values are given to us immediately in acts of preferring, the
most fundamental of which is love and hatred.
• Preferring is not the same as choosing. The object of
choosing is a good, already implying a value
comprehension.
• Love is an immediate attitude towards objects of value
which encompasses always a whole complex grades of
value.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
HIERARCHY OF VALUES
• The hierarchy of values are invariable, a priori, although
rules for preferring one value to another varies
throughout history.
• The rank of values are not mediated by intellect but they
are known intuitively by logique du Coeur.
• Existence of positive value is positive value. Non-
existence of positive value is negative value. Existence of
negative value is negative value. Non-existence of
negative value is positive value.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
HIERARCHY OF VALUES
1. Sensory Values: the pleasant and its negative, the
unpleasant.
• The Objects of sensory feelings, and corresponding
subjective states are delight and pain.
• We always prefer the pleasant, although carriers vary.
• Also technical values, values of civilization and luxury
values.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
HIERARCHY OF VALUES

2. Vital values: the noble and the vulgar

• Values connected with general well-being
• Corresponding feelings-states are health, sickness,
aging, exhaustion, vitality, etc.
• Feeling-toned responses: being pleased, anger,
courage, anxiety, etc.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
HIERARCHY OF VALUES

3. Spiritual values: justice/injustice, truth, of which

scientific and culture values are derivative, aesthetic
values of beautiful and ugly.
• Feeling-states: joy, sorrow
• Feeling responses: delight, dislike, approval,
disapproval, reverence, contempt, retaliation,
sympathy.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
HIERARCHY OF VALUES

4. Values of the Holy and Unholy

• Appear on objects given as “absolute objects.”
• Derivative values: sacraments, forms of worship.
• Feeling-states of bliss, despair.
• Feeling-responses: belief, unbelief, awe, worship etc.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
HIERARCHY OF VALUES

• Characteristics of higher values:

1. Ability to endure
2. Indivisibility
3. Generates other values
4. Gives deeper satisfaction
5. Dependent of experiencing organism

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Feelings
HIERARCHY OF VALUES
• Good is the realization of a higher value in place of a lower value
or of a positive value in place of a negative value.
• Evil is the realization of a lower value in place of a higher value or
of a negative value in place of a positive value.
• Moral values of good and evil are personal not only in the
superficial sense of coming from the person who acts but in a
deeper sense of contributing to formation of one person.
• Since higher values of holy and spiritual pertain to person, and
lower values of vital and sensory pertain to ego, moral values of
good and evil form our personhood.
• Doing good makes us more of a person while doing evil makes us
less of a person.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 Classroom Discussion:

Does feeling affect the moral decision of

the person? Why or why not?

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor