Bioethics 101

Lesson two

Subjective and Objective Questions

Subjective: adj. Based or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Do you like to wear sneakers?

Subjective questions usually relate to the speaker, are emotional, are modified by cultural bias.

Objective: adj. A person or their judgments are NOT influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts. What is the capitol of Washington State? How many legs does an arachnid have?

Objective questions require facts and evidence to answer and are often yes/no or right/wrong answers.

Is Science Objective?Yes! The facts of science are objective

No! The process of science is done by humans in a social context.

For example, people use their values to decide

what science to fund

how to conduct science responsibly (here let me do an experiment on your ear…uh, what?!)

how to apply new discoveries and use them appropriately

Is Ethics Subjective?

Yes! Ethical questions rely on people’s values to come to an answer…but that’s not all

No! Reasoned judgment is also necessary to make an ethical decision, using evidence (facts!), logic, and bioethical analysis (oh, tell me more!)

Skits! Let’s get real.

Act out your given scenario.

Say the thoughts of your character out loud, like we’re able to hear your thinking

What code or standard is being honored (or not) in this skit?

The Principles

An action is right if

it follows…

Principles: Respect for Persons

Respect for Persons emphasizes the inherent worth and dignity of each individual, and acknowledges a person’s right to make their own choices. It means not treating people as a way to get what we want (“means to an end”).

Principles: Maximizing Benefits & Minimizing Harms

Maximizing Benefits & Minimizing Harms asks how we can do the most good and the least amount of harm. It considers how one would directly help others and act in their best interest, while “doing no harm.”

Principles: Justice

Justice considers how we can treat people fairly and equitably*. It involves the sharing of resources, risks and costs according to what is “due” to each person.

Equality = everyone gets a shirt

*Equity = everyone gets a shirt that fits

…certain fundamental

Moral Rules

An action is right if it

follows…

The Ethical Perspective DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Actions are Right or Wrong:

Are you motivated to always act on duty to your morals (the rules you live by)?

Do you respect people every step of the way?

 

The German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was one of the developers of this perspective of ethics. He created these two rules that he considered unbreakable:

One should act only in ways that would be acceptable if everyone else acted that same way.

One should not treat persons as a means to an end only, where the outcome is the only concern.

…a set of Virtues honored by a

particular community

An action is right if

it matches…

The Ethical Perspective VIRTUES

If you develop your virtuous traits, such as honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, faithfulness, you are a virtuous person.

What is ethical is what develops virtues in ourselves and our community.

The challenge with this is that sometimes people don’t agree on the essential virtues.

…good consequences outweigh bad

consequencesAn action is right if …

The Ethical Perspective OUTCOMES

It’s all about the consequences!

Consequences support the well-being of everyone involved.

Choose actions that produce the greatest overall benefits.

The ends do justify the means (Do whatever you have to to get the “right” outcome)

… the importance and value

of interpersonal relationships

An action is right if

it acknowledges…

The Ethical Perspective CARE

Focuses on the relationships and the power structures that influence a situation

Asks questions like:

What is not being said?

How does the power (or lack of power) of different people and institutions influence actions?

How can we value relationships?

Ethical Perspectives and Bioethical Principles help move ethics toward the “objective” end of the subjective-objective

spectrum

Based on the Bioethical principle or

perspective I assign your group, choose

one or two people who would be your top

priority to save.

Now who would you save?

And now, What About Dennis?

Read Case Study: Dennis’s Decision. What are the main ethical considerations of this case?• Respect for Persons, specifically the autonomy of

Dennis. Does he have the right to make choices based on his personal values and beliefs?

• Maximizing Benefits/Minimizing Harms. The doctors can “do good” by providing medical treatment.

Should Dennis be allowed to reject life-saving medical treatment?