Unit 1 Bioethics Flashcards
What is Ethics?
The study of moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an activity.
What is the definition of ethics according to Merriam-Webster?
A set of moral principles, a theory of moral values, principles of conduct for individuals/groups, and the discipline dealing with notions of good and bad.
What is Object in the context of bioethics?
The good is what the will consciously aims for. It determines the act of the will and refers to an action’s moral meaning. Reason understands it, and the will chooses it.
What are circumstances in human actions?
Events, occasions, or conditions that make an act concrete.
What is the etymology of Deontology?
From Greek: Deontos (Duty) + Logos (Treatise/study).
What is the definition of Bioethics by Encyclopedia of Bioethics?
The systematic study of human behavior in life sciences and healthcare, examined in light of values and principles.
When was the Hippocratic Oath written?
Around 460 BC.
What does the Hippocratic Oath emphasize about patient information?
It emphasizes the importance of confidentiality and not spreading patient information.
What are Human Actions?
Actions performed by individuals that can be assessed as morally right or wrong.
What does ‘agent’ refer to in ethics?
The individual who performs an action that is subject to moral evaluation.
What is Moral Object in Bioethics?
What the will wants and prepares to fulfill; not a description of the action or its effects.
How do circumstances affect moral actions?
They modify acts by increasing or diminishing the moral value, but cannot change a bad action into a good one.
What does Deontology study?
Obligations and rights, both ethical and legal.
Carlo Caffarra’s view on Bioethics?
Focuses on human action in life, scientific knowledge of life, and its use.
Where did the Hippocratic Oath originate?
Island of Cos, Greece.
What are the consequences mentioned in the Hippocratic Oath for violating it?
Possible loss of honor and fame, and suffering negative consequences.
What is Freedom in the context of Ethics?
The ability to act according to one’s own will, while being accountable for the moral implications of those actions.
What are the key components in the structure of an ethical action?
Freedom, conscience, human act, object, end, circumstances, intention, reason.
Example: Assisting someone outside shift
Can be seen as an action of generosity.
Can circumstances change the moral substance of an action?
No, they cannot alter the essence of the action.
What influences Deontological principles?
Laws, Regulations, and Codes of conduct.
Leon Correa’s perspective on Bioethics?
Practical deliberation on ethical requirements, respect for life, dignity in biomedicine, and healthcare.
What concepts does the Hippocratic Oath include?
Ethics, deontology, and bioethics.
How does the Hippocratic Oath address personal conduct?
It calls for personal dedication to life, art, and ethical standards in medicine.
What is Deontology?
An ethical theory that emphasizes duties and rules that must be followed irrespective of the consequences.
What does ‘human nature’ imply in ethical analysis?
The intrinsic characteristics and qualities that define humans and their moral behavior.
Intention
The purpose or goal motivating the action.
What factors are included in circumstances?
Quality, quantity, personal/social conditions, motivation, time, place, agent’s condition.
What are the two requirements for an agent in Deontology?
Expert knowledge and a specific ethic.
Josef Pieper’s statement on moral law?
There cannot be a moral law which is contrary to reality.
What is the purpose of the Hippocratic Oath?
To serve as a guide for moral conduct in health care professions.
What is one reason for the rejection of euthanasia?
To keep life as pure as possible.
What is Bioethics?
A field of study that deals with the ethical implications of biological and medical procedures and technologies.
What is meant by ‘universal’ in ethical terms?
Principles or values that apply universally across cultures and societies.
Circumstances
The situational factors affecting the ethical value of an action.
What is the effect of circumstances on an action’s value?
They provide a deeper ethical or unethical value to the action.
Does the desire to do good guarantee ethical behavior?
No, complexity and conflict of interest may hinder it.
Purpose of Bioethics?
Framework for interdisciplinary ethical reflection and practical ethic in medicine.
Who is honored as equal in the Hippocratic Oath?
The teacher of the art of medicine.
What is a key reason for rejecting abortion?
To maintain the sanctity of life.
What is the Hippocratic Oath?
An ethical code attributed to Hippocrates for physicians, emphasizing the importance of ethics in medical practice.
Who was Socrates and when did he live?
A Greek philosopher (470 – 399 BC) known for his contributions to ethics and moral philosophy.
Ethical Value
The moral significance of an action based on object, intention, and circumstances.
Do circumstances include specific means?
Yes, they include the specific means by which an action is carried out.
Professional Ethics
Commitment to quality care and preventing harm.
Main protagonists in Bioethics?
Doctor and patient.
What commitment is made regarding the teacher’s offspring?
To regard them as equal and teach them without fee.
What principle emphasizes respect for other professions in bioethics?
Interdisciplinary respect.
What is the focus of Applied Ethics?
The practical application of ethical principles to specific issues and fields.
What is the importance of ‘conscience’ in ethical actions?
It serves as an inner sense of right and wrong that influences moral decisions.
