Bioethics Flashcards
is a discipline of applied ethics and comprises three main sub-disciplines: medical ethics, animal ethics, and environmental ethics.
Bioethics
The oldest sub-discipline of bioethics which can be traced back to the introduction of the Hippocratic Oath (500 B.C.E.)
Medical Ethics
is a compilation of ancient texts concerning the proper behaviour of physicians and the relationship between physician and patient
Hippocratic Oath
Hippocratic Oath contains some binding ethical rules of utmost importance such as the well -known principle of _____ and the _______
non-maleficence (“primum nonnocere”) and the principle of beneficence (“salusaegrotisupremalex”)
“primum non nocere”
principle of non-maleficence
“salusaegrotisupremalex”
principle of beneficence
In contemporary bioethics, it is —widely regarded as an eligible autonomous decision of the patient that must be respected.
euthanasia
They provided the deontological approaches
Kant and Ross
Approaches that are commonly characterized by applying usually strict moral rules or norms to concrete cases.
Deontological Approaches
Religious approaches, such as those of the Catholic Church, and non-religious deontological approaches, such as ___________, are prime examples of applying moral rules.
Kantian-oriented theories
A deontological approach that generally adhere to the basic Kantian ideas of respect for persons and human dignity; both central ideas are rooted in the human being’s capacity to act autonomously.
Kantian-oriented deontological approaches (or Kantianism)
“Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end”
The second formula of Kant’s Categorical Imperative
used in the fields of animal ethics (Regan 1983, Korsgaard 1996, 2004, Wood 1998) and environmental ethics (Taylor 1986, Korsgaard 1996)
deontological approaches
One of the most prominent and influential ways of ethical reasoning and decision making in the field of bioethics is based on ________.
utilitarianism
The consequence principle of utilirarianism
The consequences of a given action are the measure of its moral quality.
The moral rightness and wrongness of actions are determined by the greatest possible utility for the greatest possible number of all sentient beings
utility principle
The consequences of a given action are evaluated with reference to a particular value. This particular prime value can be as follows: (1) Promoting pleasure, or (2) avoiding pain, or (3) satisfaction of interests or considered preferences, or (4) satisfaction of some objective criteria of wellbeing, and so forth.
hedonistic principle
Maximize the total utility for all sentient beings affected.
universal principle
Utilitarian approaches in bioethics were spearheaded by
Singer (1979) and Harris (1975)
Utilitarian approaches in bioethics were spearheaded by Singer (1979) and Harris (1975) and carried on by, among others,
Savulescu (2001, 2002) and Schüklenk (2010)
debunking the traditional religious views on the sacredness of human beings, the prohibition of abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia
Utilitarianism
stressing the importance of non-rational sentient animals (animal ethics) and the preservation of nature (environmental ethics) against anthropocentric approaches such as Kantianism and religious approaches
Utilitarianism
arguing against the use of human rights and human dignity in bioethical discourses
Utilitarianism
maximizing the patient’s well-being or best interests in medicine
Utilitarianism
one should not be allowed to kill a human being or sentient animal if one can detect in that being rationality and self consciousness— the core elements of personhood according to _______.
Singer
claims that human beings must consider the equal interests of human beings and animals alike.
Singer
Who developed the Four-Principle Approach?
Tom Beauchamp and James Childress
Name the four universal prima facie mid-level ethical principles of principalism
(1) autonomy,
(2) non-maleficence,
(3) beneficence,
(4) justice
is the set of norms shared by all persons committed to morality.
The common morality
________ is, according to Beauchamp, …a methodological tool that adds content to abstract principles, ridding them of their indeterminateness and providing action-guiding content for the purpose of coping with complex cases.
method of specification
is important for reaching sound judgements in individual cases and it can be seen as “the process of finding reasons to support beliefs about which moral norms should prevail” (Beauchamp and Childress 2009: 20).
method of balancing
four basic principles of medical ethics:
1) Beneficence,
2) Non-Maleficence,
3) Respect for Autonomy, and
4) Justice.
Medical practitioners should act in the best interests of the patient
The Principle of Beneficence
Medical practitioners must not harm the patient.
The Principle of Non-Maleficence
This principle is based on the ancient maxim “First, do no harm” (primumnon nocere).
The Principle of Non-Maleficence
More specifically, they should prevent harm, remove harm, and promote good for the patient. In the delivery of health care, the relevant harms to be prevented or removed may include pain and suffering, disease, disability, and death. Similarly, the relevant goods to be promoted may include well-being, health, proper functioning, and life.
The Principle of Beneficence
When applying this principle, it must be determined whether a proposed medical treatment will prevent or remove harm, or promote good for the patient.
The Principle of Beneficence
Capable patients must be allowed to accept or refuse recommended medical interventions
The Principle of Respect for Autonomy
defined as the capacity for self-determination or the capacity to make one’s own decisions. In the health care context, this capacity involves the ability to make and communicate health care
decisions.
Autonomy
________ requires that those with this capacity be permitted to accept or refuse treatment alternatives recommended by their physicians. Of vital importance to the application of this principle is the requirement of ________________
The Principle of Respect for Autonomy, voluntary informed consent
__________ must be provided with full, relevant, and truthful information about recommended treatments and any reasonable alternatives, including expected benefits, potential risks, and the results of refusing treatment altogether. They must understand this information and make a voluntary decision ________.
Capable patients, without coercion or undue influence.
Patients, their families and surrogate decision makers, as well as health care providers, all have the right to dignity.
The Principle of Respect for Dignity
meant to apply to everyone involved in the medical encounter. It is based on the fundamental idea that all persons should be treated with respect and dignity.
The Principle of Respect for Dignity
The capable patient must be provided with the complete truth about his or her medical condition.
The Principle of Veracity
Capable patients must be provided with the complete truth about their medical conditions, both at the point of diagnosis and as their condition progresses. This is the only way that a patient can make a truly informed decision about accepting or rejecting recommended medical interventions. Patients must also be informed about their conditions in case experimental treatments were to become available. Similarly, surrogate decision makers must be provided with this information so that they can make an informed decision about the incapable patient’s treatment.
The Principle of Veracity
Health care resources should be distributed in a fair way among the members of society.
The Principle of Distributive Justice
This principle is applicable when resources are expensive or scarce and decisions must be made about who will receive these resources
The Principle of Distributive Justice
