NCM30 – HEALTH CARE ETHICS- BIOETHICS
S Code of Federal Regulations (1974)
Casell, 1984, p.35
 Bioethics – ethics as it relates to the
health care professions – came into
existence as an independent discipline
abot 1970: “…the vocabulary of the
moral – right and wrong- has been
added to the vocabulary of scientific
medicine – of fact and content”.
Why study Ethics?
1. To develop good moral behavior
through words and actions
2. To make good moral decisions
regarding human health or treatment of
patients ( De Belen & De Belen, 2007,
p.229)
3. Nurses are expected to exhibit bio-
ethical behavior in their professional
duties (Venzon & Venzon, 2005, p.96)
4. A person is always involve in moral and
ethical decision-making that affects
people. Private are bound by strict
standards of professional conduct and
are expected publicly to uphold the
highest ideals of professional practice
(Johnstone, 2009, p.6)
5. Nurses in all levels and areas of practice
are bound by strict standards of
professional conduct and are expected
publicly to uphold the highest ideals of
professional practice (Johnstone, 2009,
p.6)
History
“Those who do not learn from history are
doomed to repeat it” George Santayana
1. The Nuremberg Code (1947)
2. The Declaration of Helsinki (1964)
3. U.
4. The National Research Act and The IRB
System (1974)
5. The Belmont Report (1979)
Nuremberg Code
1. Voluntary human consent is essential
2. Experimental results should result in
good for society
3. Anticipated results should justify the
experiment
4. Avoid all unnecessary physical and
mental suffering
5. No experiment if there is a chance of
death/disability
6. Minimize risk of subjects
7. Proper preparations and facilities to
protect subjects
8. Experiments conducted only by
qualified persons
9. Subjects can withdraw at anytime
10. Terminate experiment if results are
known or with best judgement
DECLARATION OF HELSINKI
Basic Principles
1. Conform to accepted scientific principle
2. Design formulated in experimental
protocol, reviewed by IEC.
3. Conducted by qualified and trained
persons.
4. Importance in proportion to inherent
risk.
5. Assessment of risks vs. benefits.
6. Safeguard subject’s integrity (privacy)
7. Abstain unless hazards are predictable.
8. Preserve accuracy when publishing.
9. Adequately inform or right to withdraw.
10. Obtain true informed consent in
writing.
 11. Reliance on legal guardian.
12. State compliance with Declaration.

The Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and

Guidelines for the protection of human subjects
of research was first written in 1978 in part as a
response the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.

Three ethical principles from the