ACERES, Shaine Creysel C.

Bioethics Activity

1. Give the definitions for the following general components of ethics that govern our ethical
decisions. Give a certain example/ a scenario for each component
A. Rules an authoritative statement of what to do or not to do in a specific situation,
issued by an appropriate person or body.
Ex. Visiting hours and policies that restrict visitors' time with patients
B. Standard - this is established by consensus and approved by a recognized body, that
provides for common and repeated use, guidelines or characteristics for activities or
their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given
context.
Ex. According to Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories, clear aisles and exits are
necessary to facilitate departure in the event of an emergency.
C. Principles - this is a general belief that one has about the way he or she should behave,
which influences his or her behavior.
Ex. One of the Guiding Principles of a Community Hospital: Patients come first. Their
individual satisfaction with our services is the best measure of our success. In every
decision, seek to meet their needs above all others.
D. Judgment - an opinion or decision that is based on careful thought.
Ex. Physicians, nurses, and other clinicians readily acknowledge being troubled by
encounters with patients who trigger moral judgments. For example, in the presence of
a senior whose lips and skin are dry, who eats few proteins, who is bedridden and who
moves little, a nurse will recognize that the individual is at risk of developing bedsore.
The nurse will subsequently implement the required preventive measures.
E. Common Sense - it is a judgment that is based on life experience rather than on
scholarly activity.
Ex. Common sense means paying attention to the obvious. For instance, an intern assigned
to a patient with a black tongue had researched all the causes of a black tongue and
was eager to demonstrate his new knowledge. As the intern started to lecture us, the
attending physician interrupted him and asked the patient if he uses black cough
drops. The patient smiled, opened the drawer of his night table, and took out a
package of black cough drops.
F. Values - these guiding principles dictate behavior and can help people understand the
difference between right and wrong.
Ex. One of Mayo Clinic Mission and Values: Respect. Treat everyone in our diverse
community, including patients, their families and colleagues, with dignity.
G. Public Interest - the welfare or well-being of the general public
Ex. For example, in situations with prevalent informal charging for care, providers may at
least be required to display publicly the full costs of procedures, and patients invited to
register complaints where additional charging occurs.
2. To further understand the theories of bioethics give your own example or scenario for each
theory
A. Teleological theory ex. if killing someone will create greater joy, that action is
morally correct
a. Utilitarian theory
If there have been many more peasants benefiting than moguls suffering,
one can steal money from the rich and give it to the poor.
b. Hedonism theory
Someone loves to roam around eating, sleeping, singing, and having a
good time. He forgets about his home and his responsibilities, and gives
himself up entirely to the hedonism.
c. Egoism theory
Going to college is in omeone self-interest, and it will help keep him
off welfare.
d. Asceticism theory
A Buddhist monk is an example of someone practicing asceticism. He or
she abstains from the normal pleasures of life or denies himself or
herself material satisfaction.
e. Altruism theory
Someone who involves himself in the charity work by giving time and
money without expecting nothing in return.
f. Rule Consequentialist theory
Lying is wrong because we know that in general, lying produces bad
consequences.
g. Negative consequentialism theory
One should also help animals who are suffering. Even if their suffering is
not due to exploitation by humans, we should help them whenever it is
possible to do so as long as it does not cause considerable suffering to
others.
B. Deontology theory ex. killing someone is wrong, even if it was in self-defense
a. Divine Command theory
Someone who believes that God is always good would therefore believe
ha all of God command and ohibi ion a e good
b. Natural Right theory
Theft is wrong because it destroys social relations, and man is by nature
a social animal.
c. Pluralistic Deontology
My decision to stop and assist an accident victim (duty of beneficence)
might conflict with my promise to attend an important meeting (duty to
f lfill omi e o n co n e o m doc o ecommenda ion ha I
avoid high-stress situations (duty of self-improvement).
 d. Contractarian or Moral Theory of Contractarianism
For example, the contract could obligate the sovereign to protect the
security of persons and property. On this understanding, laws that
actually invaded personal security or attempted to appropriate property
would be invalid as contrary to the provisions of the contract.
C. Virtue theory
Man has a function and the good man is the man who performs his
function well.
3. To better understand the difference of ignorance and negligence, give one example of
ignorance and one for negligence in medical laboratory science setting.
Ignorance: A patient was diagnosed with a disease he does not really have because
the medical laboratory scientist rushed the results leading to inaccuracy.

Negligence: A patient was misdiagnosed because an intern who does not have any
experience in operating the new laboratory machine made an error in recording the
results.
4. Give at least two examples of Bioethical Issues that are still present/existing today
(especially in the Philippines)
Abortion - Abortion refers to the premature ending of a pregnancy which occurred
in itself (known as miscarriage or spontaneous abortion) or by force through
surgery or taking medications. For over a century, abortion has been criminalized in
the Philippines. The criminal provisions on abortion do not contain any exceptions
allowing abortion, including to save the life of the pregnant woman or to protect her
health.
Euthanasia - It is the process of intending to end the life an individual tostop his or
her pain and suffering. Euthanasia is illegal in the Philippines. In 1997, the
Philippine Senate considered passing a bill legalizing passive euthanasia. The bill
met strong opposition from the country's Catholic Church. If legalized the
Philippines would have been the first country to legalize euthanasia. Under current
laws, doctors assisting a patient to die can be imprisoned and charged with
malpractice.
5. Read and understand the MedTech Code of Ethics in your MTL module on page 8
As I enter into the practice of Medical Technology, I shall accept the responsibilities
inherent to being a professional; I shall uphold the law and shall not engage in illegal
work nor cooperate with anyone so engaged; I shall avoid associating or being
identified with any enterprise of questionable character;
I shall work and act in a strict spirit of fairness to employer, clients, contractors,
employees and in a spirit of personal helpfulness and fraternity toward other
members of the profession;
I shall use only honorable means of competition for professional employment or
services and shall refrain form unfairly injuring, directly or indirectly, the
professional reputation, projects or business of a fellow medical technologist; I shall
accept employment from more than one employer only when there in no conflict of
interest;
I shall perform professional work in a manner that merits full confidence and trust
carried out with absolute reliability, accuracy, fairness and honesty; I shall review
the professional work of other medical technologists, when requested, fairly and in
confidence whether they are subordinates or employees, authors of proposals for
grants or contracts, authors of technical papers or other publications or involved in
litigation;
I shall advance the profession by exchanging general information and experience
with fellow medical technologists and other professionals and by contributing to the
work of professional organizations; I shall restrict my praises, criticisms, views and
opinions within constructive limits and shall not use the knowledge I know for
selfish ends; I shall treat any information I acquired about individuals in the course
of my work as strictly confidential, and may be divulged only to authorized persons
or entities or with consent of the individual when necessary;
I shall report any infractions of these principles of professional conduct to the
authorities responsible of enforcement of applicable laws or regulations, or to the
Ethics Committee of the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists as may be
appropriate.
To these principles, I hereby subscribe and pledge to conduct myself at all times in a
manner befitting the dignity of my profession.