MST2 Week 7: When Technology and Humanity Cross PDF

WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY CROSS MST2: WEEK 7 ETHICS  Ethics is a system of moral principles that is concerned with what is good for one’s self and the society. IS ETHICS RELATIVE? Darius, King of Persia… “Summons Greeks to his court and asked them what they would take to eat...

WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY CROSS MST2: WEEK 7 ETHICS  Ethics is a system of moral principles that is concerned with what is good for one’s self and the society. IS ETHICS RELATIVE? Darius, King of Persia… “Summons Greeks to his court and asked them what they would take to eat the dead bodies of their fathers. They replied that they would not do it for any money in the world. Later, in the presence of the Greeks , and through an interpreter, so that they could understand what was said, he asked some Indians, of the tribe called Callatiae, who in fact eat their parents’ dead bodies, what they would take to burn them. They uttered a cry of horror and forbade him to mention such a dreadful thing.” - Herodotus (485-430 B.C.) ETHICS, MORALITY AND THEORY Ethics  Philosophy addressing questions of morality, understanding, and examining moral life Morality  Code of conduct put forward by society  Normative claims: how things should or ought to be. ETHICS, MORALITY AND THEORY Theory  Abstract reflection and argument  A systematic justification of those principles  Not all theories are of equal value or rigor  Aspect of each theory can contribute to our knowledge and analysis of a particular case in bioethics EXAMPLES OF MORAL THEORY  Utilitarianism  Consequence-based theory (Ends justify the means)  Kantianism  Why you do something matters…can you make something a universal rule?  The Golden Rule  Liberal Individualism  Positive Rights (education) and Negative Rights (Bill of Rights) EXAMPLES OF MORAL THEORY  Communitarianism  The good of the community (Hoban)  Ethics of Care  Relationships matter  Focus on relationships involving care, responsibility, and trust ETHICAL THEORY…TO ACTION ​ Theor Princip ​Rule ​Action y le BIOETHICS  Bioethics is the philosophical study of the ethical controversies brought about by advances in biology and medicine.  Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, philosophy, and theology.  Applied Ethics: applied to actual ethical problems BIOETHICS  Clinical Ethics  Research Ethics  Animal Rights  Environmental Ethics  Biotechnology  Public Health WHAT PROBLEMS DO WE DEAL WITH…  Clinical Ethics  CPR (1954) James Elam experiment  Right to Refuse Care  Research Ethics  Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment  Willowbrook Experiment BIOETHICS  What should we do?  Why?  Case specific  Depends on values of the individuals  Some universal principles  when two possible options are available.. CASE 1: JEHOVAH'S WITNESS  16 year old male  Car accident  Requires surgery  Parents will not allow blood products to be used  Patient refuses blood products AUTONOMY  Autonomy:  Greek:  autos “self” and  omos “rule,” governance,” or “law”  Self-rule that is free from both controlling interference by others and from certain limitations such as an inadequate understanding that prevents meaningful choice (Beauchamp and Childress) BENEFICENCE  Providing a benefit to another  Principle of beneficence: a moral obligation to act for the benefit of others  Protect and defend rights of others  Help persons with disabilities  Rescue persons in danger NON-MALEFICENCE  An obligation to not inflict harm on others  First do no harm  Distinct from Beneficence  Obligations not to harm (rob or kill)  Obligations to help others (rescue a drowning child)  Withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment  Intended effects and merely foreseen effects JUSTICE  Fair and just distribution of social burdens, benefits, opportunities and allocation of positions  Justice and Distributive Justice: fair, equitable and appropriate distribution determined by social norms  Access to Health Care  Selection of Research subject population CASE 2: VOLLEYBALL PLAYER  Infection in her leg  60% Chance of recovery with antibiotics alone  80% Chance of recovery with antibiotics and amputation of the leg  Parents want doctors to amputate the leg, patient would like to only take antibiotics CASE 3: PAIN RELIEF IN HOSPICE  86 year old man  Pancreatic Cancer  Hospice and Palliative Care  Refuses all pain medication  Staff and other patients are upset at “screams of agony” ETHICAL DILEMMA  There is an ethical dilemma when two possible options are neither absolutely acceptable from ethical perspective.  Sometimes, it is called as ethical paradox or moral dilemma. WHAT IS ETHICAL DILEMMA?  We encounter many problems in life, but most of them have easy, straightforward answers.  An ethical dilemma however, requires a deep understanding of the issue and may require complex solutions. HOW DO WE APPROACH AN ETHICAL DILEMMA?  Recognize the ethical issue.  Is there a conflict that arise from the situation or case?  Is it an ethical conflict? Why? HOW DO WE APPROACH AN ETHICAL DILEMMA?  Begin the decision making.  What are the facts and relevant information?  What are the key values and principles involved?  What are the possible options or alternatives? HOW DO WE APPROACH AN ETHICAL DILEMMA?  Subject the dilemma to a critical analysis  Which option or alternative protects the rights of the individuals?  Which option or alternative would lead to the best overall consequences?  Which option or alternative best promotes the common good? HOW DO WE APPROACH AN ETHICAL DILEMMA?  Make a decision and evaluate the consequences.  Which option or alternative is the best?  Ask “Was my action the best action?”  Click icon to add picture WHAT TECHNOLOGICAL ETHICAL DILEMMAS? Technological ethical dilemmas Are those that arise from technology – from its conception, production, use and effect. What is the ethical dilemma about cloning? TECHNOLOGICAL ETHICAL DILEMMAS  Technologies can pose ethical dilemmas if they put at risk the human body, the human rights, the human environment and the human society.  Some are too disruptive that they can undermine the human existence.  Some technologies cause too much damage to the environment.  Some technologies negatively change how society grows e ethical dilemmas if they put at risk  Human rights should always be considered in HUMAN RIGHTS  What are human rights?  What are your human rights?  Click icon to add picture HUMAN RIGHTS According to the United Nations, human rights are "rights inherent to all human beings, whatever nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status". Human rights are universal as enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948.  Click icon to add picture HUMAN RIGHTS Human rights are interdependent, interrelated and indivisible. The improvement of one right helps in the advancement of the others. Likewise, the deprivation of one right adversely affects the others HUMAN RIGHTS  Aside from the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are also human rights which are protected and enshrined in the Constitution of each state, other human rights treatises, and state and local laws and policies.  In addressing technological ethical dilemmas, human rights should be considered.  The stakeholders should always ask what human rights will be affected by new technologies. HUMAN FLOURISHING AND HUMAN RIGHTS  Humans are social beings.  Humans flourish when they are part of a society. However, in a society, there are individuals or groups who may interfere with one's autonomy or self-directedness.  In order to protect one's autonomy and self-directedness, there's a need for moral principles.  These moral principles are the human rights.  Human rights are important because they give us human dignity.  One cannot flourish without human dignity.  There is an ethical dilemma when two possible options are neither absolutely acceptable from an ethical perspective.  Modern technologies are usually coupled with ethical dilemmas.  In dealing with these technological ethical dilemmas, human rights should be upheld.  -end- Thank you!