Chapter 1 | Human Existence and Ethics

MORAL PHILOSOPHY
AND BIOETHICS
BSN2A
Tan • Tagliong • Taraya • Valdez
 ETHICS, MORALITY,
ETHICS AND THEORY
Ethics

Philosophy addresses questions of morality,

understanding, and examining moral life.

Morality
MORALITY
Code of conduct put forward by society; normative
claims on how things should or ought to be
IS ETHICS RELTIVE?
Darius, King of Persia Story

Greeks refused to eat their fathers' dead bodies,

regardless of payment.

Indians (Callatiae tribe) found burning bodies

horrifying and refused the idea.
 DEFINING THEORY
THEORY Theory: Abstract reflection and argument.

Systematic justification of principles.

Not all theories are of equal value or rigor.

THEORY Each theory can contribute to understanding

and analyzing bioethical cases.
 EXAMPLES OF MORAL THEORY

Utilitarianism

Consequence-based theory; ends justify the means.

Communitarianism

The good of the community.

Kantianism

Motivation matters; universal rule; The Golden Rule.

Ethics of Care

Importance of relationships, care, responsibility, and

Liberal Individualism trust.

Positive and negative rights

 ETHICAL THEORY TO ACTION
FLOW Theory

Principle

Rule

Action
 INTRODUCTION TO BIOETHICS
What is Bioethics
Philosophical study of ethical controversies in biology and
medicine.

Bioethicists explore the ethical questions in life sciences,

biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, philosophy, and theology.

Applied Ethics: Applied to real-world ethical problems.

AREAS OF BIOETHICS

Clinical Ethics Environmental Ethics

Life support, doctor-patient relationship. GMOs, air pollution.

Research Ethics Biotechnology

Stem cells, gene therapy. Brain-computer interface, bioterrorism.

Animal Rights Public Health

Euthanasia, chimeras. Vaccinations, FDA regulations.

 ETHICAL ISSUES IN PRACTICE
Clinical Ethics
CPR, right to refuse care

Research Ethics
Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, Willowbrook
Experiment
CASE 1 : JEHOVAH’S WITNESS

16-year-old male in a car accident.

Requires surgery but refuses blood products due to religious

beliefs.

Ethical dilemma: Autonomy vs. Beneficence.

 KEY BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLES

Autonomy Justice

Self-rule free from controlling interference. Fair and just distribution of resources and
opportunities.

Beneficence Nonmaleficence

Moral obligation to act for the benefit of others. Obligation to avoid inflicting harm
CASE 2: VOLLEYBALL PLAYER

Infection in her leg with 60% recovery with antibiotics

alone

80% chance of recovery with antibiotics and amputation.

Parents prefer amputation; patient prefers antibiotics.

CASE 3: PAIN RELIEF IN HOSPICE

86-year-old man with pancreatic cancer.

Refuses all pain medication despite severe pain.

Ethical dilemma: Autonomy vs. Nonmaleficence.

 BIOETHICS
Addresses "What should we do?"
and "Why?"

Case-specific decisions based on individual values

Some principles are universal.

MORAL PHILOSOPHY
 MORAL PHILOSOPHY
What is Moral Philosophy
Definition: Moral philosophy involves making choices about
what is considered moral or immoral.
Concerned with ideas of right and wrong.

Moral choices impact how we should behave and the

intentions behind our behavior
Society's role in defining correct values.
MORALITY VS. LEGALITY
Distinction between what is morally right and what is legally right.

LEGALITY MORALITY

An action is permissible if it a body of principles that

does not violate any of the attempt to define what is good
written rules and bad conduct

Ex. Something that is illegal but might be considered moral.

Ex. Something that is legal but might be considered immoral.
THE ROLE OF MORAL PHILOSOPHERS
Examination of reasons behind moral decisions

Importance of justifying moral decisions to

condemn actions like murder or torture.
MORAL DECISION-MAKING
Debates around whether morality is a matter of
personal taste.

The implications of treating morality as

subjective versus objective.
WHY SHOULD WE BE MORAL?

Everyday moral decisions

Balancing personal desires with the interests of others

the 'Myth of the Ring of Gyges' by Plato.

MORAL PHILOSOPHY
The Myth of the Ring of Gyges

Story overview: A ring that grants invisibility.

Question: Would we act immorally if we could get

away with it?
Reflection: Are there actions you would still avoid
even if you could get away with them? Why?
 MORAL
PHILOSOPHY

Guides our decisions and helps us navigate the ethical

challenges
ETHICAL POSTULATES
Ethical postulates are fundamental
assumptions or principles that form the basis
for ethical reasoning and moral judgments.
Think of them as the foundational ideas or
“building blocks” that guide how we decide
what is right and wrong.
 Ethical postulates are basic ideas that help us figure out
what’s right and wrong. In nursing, they guide how nurses
make decisions and provide care.

And how these core principles apply to nursing and give

examples of how they help nurses make ethical choices.

These principles help nurses navigate complex situations by

providing a clear framework for making ethical decisions. They
support the nurse’s role in advocating for patients and
maintaining professional standards.
 KEY ETHICAL POSTULATES
a. The Postulate of the Existence of God
Kant postulates that the existence of God is necessary to ensure
ultimate justice and moral law. In nursing, this principle translates
into the belief that there is a higher purpose in providing
compassionate and ethical care.

b. The Postulate of the Immortality of the Soul

Kant’s belief in the immortality of the soul suggests that moral efforts
have lasting significance. In nursing, this can be related to the enduring
impact of compassionate care and ethical practice on patients and their
families.
 c. The Postulate of Freedom
Kant posits that freedom is a necessary condition for moral responsibility. For
Kantian ethics to function, individuals must be free to choose their actions in
accordance with moral law. In nursing, this principle emphasizes the importance
of respecting patients' autonomy and their right to make informed decisions
about their care.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS IN NURSING
Examples:
Patient Advocacy: Nurses advocate for patients’ rights and preferences in treatment
plans, ensuring that their choices are respected.
Informed Consent: Nurses ensure that patients are fully informed about their treatment
options and consent to care voluntarily.
Compassionate Care: Nurses provide empathetic care, acknowledging the intrinsic
value of each patient and striving to improve their well-being.
TYPES OF ETHICS
Ethics, the philosophical study of moral principles, is
crucial in guiding behavior and decision-making across
various disciplines. In the context of the nursing field,
ethical considerations are paramount in ensuring
compassionate, effective, and just care for patients. The
three main branches of ethics—Meta-Ethics, Normative
Ethics, and Applied Ethics.
META-ETHICS
Meta-ethics is about understanding the foundation of our moral beliefs and
statements. It helps us think about how and why we make moral judgments
and whether these judgments are based on universal truths or personal
opinions.

Meta-ethics examines the underlying questions about morality itself. It explores:

The Meaning of Moral Statements: What does it mean when we say
something is "right" or "wrong"?
Objectivity vs. Subjectivity: Are moral judgments universal and objective, or
are they based on individual or cultural perspectives?
Determining Moral Truths: How do we know if our moral beliefs are correct?
NORMATIVE ETHICS
Normative ethics is a branch of philosophy that seeks to determine what
actions are morally right or wrong. It provides frameworks and principles to
guide how people should act in various situations.

Key Aspects:
1. Principles and Rules: Normative ethics establishes guidelines for behavior, such as
rules.
2. Moral Standards: It aims to identify universal moral standards that can help individuals
and societies make ethical decisions.
3. Decision-Making: It provides a basis for evaluating and making decisions about what is
ethically right or wrong.
Applied Ethics
(Special ethics)
The application of ethics to real-world problems. It attempts to
answer the question of how people should act in specific
situations.
Professional ethics is an applied type of ethics as it deals with
certain moral precepts or rules by which persons behave and
act in the exercise of their calling or profession.
Ex. Legal ethics for lawyers, code of ethics for teachers and
nursing ethics.
 BIOETHICS AS
APPLIED ETHICS
 IMPORTANT DETAILS
IMPORTANT DETAILS

Application of Interdisciplinary Practical Application

Ethical Theories Approach in Healthcare
 Application of
Ethical
Theories
Bioethics applies ethical theories such as
utilitarianism (which focuses on maximizing
overall well-being), deontology (which
emphasizes duties and rules), and virtue ethics
(which highlights moral character) to guide
decisions in medical practice and research.
 Interdisciplinary
Approach

Bioethics draws on multiple disciplines,

including medicine, law, philosophy,
theology, and social sciences, to address
complex ethical issues.

Practical Application
in Healthcare
Bioethics provides guidelines for healthcare
professionals to navigate ethical dilemmas in
their daily practice, ensuring that patient
care aligns with moral principles.
 EVOLUTIONARY PHASES
OF BIOETHICS STUDIES

Foundational Expansion

EVOLUTIONARY PHASE
Phase
1. This phase established the basic
Phase
2. As medical technologies advanced,

OF BIOETHICS STUDIE
principles and scope of bioethics, often bioethics expanded its focus to cover a
grounded in traditional ethical theories. broader range of issues, such as reproductive
Real-Life Example: The development technologies and genetic engineering.
of the Nuremberg Code after World Real-Life Example: The birth of the first
"test-tube baby," Louise Brown, in 1978,

VOLUTIONARY PHASE
War II established foundational ethical through in-vitro fertilization (IVF), sparked
guidelines for human bioethical debates about the moral
experimentation, emphasizing the implications of assisted reproductive
necessity of voluntary consent, which technologies, the status of embryos, and
became a cornerstone of bioethical the rights of parents and donors.
standards.
 Technological
Globalization Phase
Phase
4. The latest phase focuses on the ethical
3. With the globalization of health challenges posed by rapid technological
issues, bioethics began addressing advancements, including AI, robotics in
challenges that crossed national and

VOLUTIONARY PHASES
medicine, and big data.
cultural boundaries, such as global Real-Life Example: The use of AI in
pandemics and access to healthcare. healthcare, such as in diagnostic
algorithms, raises bioethical questions
Real-Life Example: The global response about data privacy, the potential for

OF BIOETHICS STUDIES
to the HIV/AIDS crisis highlighted the algorithmic bias, and the implications
importance of bioethics in ensuring fair for the doctor-patient relationship.
access to treatment across different For instance, the use of AI-driven
countries and cultures, addressing diagnostic tools like IBM Watson in
oncology has prompted discussions

VOLUTIONARY PHASE
issues of stigma, discrimination, and the
about the ethical responsibilities of AI
ethics of drug pricing and distribution developers and healthcare providers.
 DOMINANT THEMES IN
BIOETHICAL INQUIRY

Principle of Principle of Principle of

Beneficence Autonomy Justice
Principle of
Beneficence
“Beneficence”

is the practice of doing acts of goodness,

kindness, and charity.
“do no harm and produce the good” or
“do good and do no harm”
Principle of
Beneficence
2 Complementary Aspects:

Positive Aspect: The production of the

good
Negative Aspect: Avoidance of harm
Principle of
Beneficence
Implications in Health Care Field
Health professionals should take great care not to
compound or aggravate the ill patient’s condition by causing
further injury. It is their obligations to keep people from
harm.
The advocates of new biomedical behavioral technologies
appeal to this principle in advocating genetic therapy and
other laboratory-based methods of human reproduction.
Principle of
Autonomy
Mandates a strong sense of personal
responsibility for one’s own life.
Every person is autonomous – one
should choose what he/she wishes to
be and should take responsibility for
that choice.
The voice of one’s own reason must prevail; it is the
ultimate moral guide of every individual, rich or poor.
Principle of
Autonomy
Implications in Health Care Field

Right of self determination

- the moral right of an individual to determine what is good for

himself/herself and for others (Pahl).
- the central element in the relatively recent emphasis on
patients rights.
Principle of
Justice
“Justice”
The rendering of what is due or
merited; likewise, that which is due or
merited
One acts justly if and when one gives
others their due; but one acts unjustly
whenever one withholds what others
deserve.
Principle of
Justice
Implications in Health Care Field

Physician acts justly if and when the

rights of the patient are respected; on
the contrary,an act of injustice is
performed whenever one’s duty to
the patient is neglected.
Principle of
Justice
2 Basic Types of Justice

Comparative Justice
·What a particular patient receives is determined by the
gravity of the condition or need.

Noncomparative Justice
·Medical treatment is determined by principle, not by
need.
Principle of
Justice
From the foregoing one can readily
see that each of the concepts of
justice has its strengths and
weaknesses, benefits and problems.
 Chapter 1 | Human Existence and Ethics

MORAL PHILOSOPHY
AND BIOETHICS

GROUP 1
BSN2A
Thank You For Tagliong, Dessa

YOUR Tan, Maria Elaisah

PARTICIPATION
Taraya, Tristhan Paul
Valdez, Sophia Nicole