Introduction to Bioethics

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Questions and Answers

What does the Liberty principle advocate?

Each person should have an equal right to as many basic liberties as possible. (correct)

Liberty should be limited to protect social order.

Individuals should prioritize liberty over equality.

Everyone should have absolute freedom without restrictions.

Which principle primarily establishes distributive justice?

Liberty principle

Legal principle

Fair Equality of Opportunity

Difference principle (correct)

What type of justice is concerned with the obligations of a society to its citizens?

Commutative justice

Social justice

Legal justice (correct)

Distributive justice

Which of the following is NOT one of the prima facie duties identified by Thomas Aquinas?

Humility Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following cardinal virtues is specifically related to making good judgments?

Prudence Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of bioethics?

The study of ethical and social issues generated by biotechnology Signup and view all the answers

Which event marked the beginning of the Nuremberg trials?

The unethical medical experiments conducted during World War II Signup and view all the answers

What does ethics in the context of medical practice aim to answer?

What should I do in moral dilemmas? Signup and view all the answers

What was significant about Baby Louise Brown?

She was the first test-tube baby born in the world. Signup and view all the answers

Which ethical dilemma does nursing ethics specifically address?

Individual ethical issues between caregivers and patients Signup and view all the answers

What is one example of unethical behavior in nursing?

Breaching patient confidentiality Signup and view all the answers

What landmark case did Karen Ann Quinlan's situation contribute to?

The right to life support removal Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the main goal of morality?

To generate consensus on ethical principles Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a human act from an act of man?

A human act is carried out with reflection and free will. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'antecedent conscience' refer to?

Judging an action before it is executed. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of conscience considers a good act as bad?

Erroneous conscience Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of a scrupulous conscience?

It sees wrong where there is actually none. Signup and view all the answers

In Thomistic ethics, which principle is emphasized?

Good will. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'vincible ignorance' imply about a moral agent?

They lack knowledge but can acquire it. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of a certain conscience?

It reflects subjective certainty about legality. Signup and view all the answers

Which ethical theory is associated with John Rawls?

Justice as Fairness Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition of Terms

Law: Formal rules that govern societal behavior.
Morality: Guiding principles derived from family, community, or culture.
Ethics: Seeks to address the question, "What should I do?" and serves as a standard for examining moral life.
Morals: Social consensus on specific methods of achieving ethical principles.
Biology: Study of life, encompassing structure, function, growth, evolution, and distribution of living organisms.
Bioethics: Exploration of ethical and social issues arising from biotechnology.
Health Ethics: Focus on medical and health-related ethical concerns.

Early Events in Bioethics

1947: Nuremberg Trials of Nazi doctors commenced, addressing inhumane medical experiments.
1953: Watson and Crick published a landmark paper on DNA structure.
1954: First renal transplant performed successfully.
1960: Introduction of chronic hemodialysis.
1967: Christian Barnard conducted the first heart transplant.
1968: Definition of brain death established by a Harvard Medical School committee.
1972: Unethical practices of the Tuskegee syphilis study were revealed.
1973: Roe v. Wade, a pivotal court case on reproductive rights, was decided.
1975: Case of Karen Ann Quinlan raised major legal questions about life support withdrawal.
1978: Birth of Baby Louise Brown, the first test tube baby.
1982: Baby Doe case led to ethical guidelines regarding the treatment of impaired neonates.
1982: The first artificial heart implanted into Barney Clark, who survived for 112 days.
1983: AIDS identified as an epidemic level disease.

History of Ethics

Hippocratic Oath: Historical and modern versions outline the ethical conduct expected in medicine.
Nightingale Pledge: A promise made by nurses to maintain ethical practices.
Bioethics: Examines broader moral dilemmas in healthcare, while nursing ethics focus on provider-patient interactions.
Unethical Behavior in Nursing: Includes breaches of confidentiality, theft, and crossing professional boundaries.

The Human Person

Human Act: Actions executed voluntarily; aligned with the Latin maxim "Agere sequitur esse."
Acts of Man: Actions performed without reflection or free will.
Essential Requisites of Human Acts:
- Knowledge: Informed decision-making.
- Freedom: The ability to act without constraint.
- Conscience: Application of knowledge in moral decision-making.

Kinds of Conscience

Antecedent Conscience: Judgments made prior to action.
Consequent Conscience: Judgments made after the action has occurred.
True Conscience: Accurate assessments of moral situations.
Erroneous Conscience: Incorrectly regards good acts as bad and vice versa.
- Invincible Erroneous Conscience: Lack of awareness of wrongdoing.
- Vincible Erroneous Conscience: Awareness that an act is wrong.
Certain Conscience: Confident in the morality of an action.
Doubtful Conscience: Uncertainty in moral judgment.
Scrupulous Conscience: Overly focused on committing evil where none exists.
Lax Conscience: Fails to recognize wrongdoing.

Types of Ethical Thoughts in Healthcare

Kantian Ethics: Emphasizes good will (Immanuel Kant).
Rawls’ Ethics: Highlights justice as fairness (John Rawls).
Thomistic Ethics: Focuses on natural, positive, and eternal law (St. Thomas Aquinas).
Prima Facie Duties: Outlined by Sir William David Ross, includes the right and the good.

Principles of Ethics

Liberty Principle: Advocates for equal basic liberties for all.
Equality Principle: Addresses justice as fairness, promoting distributive justice.

Equality Principles

Fair Equality of Opportunity: Ensures equitable access to positions and offices.
Difference Principle: Ensures social and economic inequalities benefit the disadvantaged.

Types of Justice

Commutative Justice: Based on equality in transactions.
Distributive Justice: Fair sharing of resources.
Legal Justice: Obligations citizens owe to society.
Social Justice: Everyone's right to have a voice in society.

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Known as "Doctor Angelicus" and "Doctor Communis."
Three Types of Laws: Natural, Positive, and Eternal Law.

Prima Facie Duties

Fidelity: Loyalty.
Reparation: Making amends.
Gratitude: Recognizing and repaying kindness.
Non-injury: Avoiding harm to others.
Harm-Prevention: Actively preventing harm.
Beneficence: Promoting the good of others.
Self-Improvement: Pursuing personal development.
Justice: Fair treatment.
Respect for Freedom: Valuing autonomy.
Care: Nurturing and supporting others.
Non-parasitism: Avoiding exploiting others.

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Description

This quiz covers the fundamental concepts related to bioethics, including key definitions and historical milestones. Explore the intertwined nature of law, morality, and ethics in health care and biomedical research. Test your knowledge on essential events that have shaped bioethical discussions.