ETHICAL ISSUES IN

MEDICINE
Assistant Danka Sinadinovi
FACULTY OF MEDICINE,
UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE

DEFINING ETHICS
Ethics (n.): a branch of philosophy dealing
with human morals and behavior
ethic (n.): a system of moral principles
(e.g. work ethic), ethics (n.) are moral
principles (e.g. professional ethics)
ethical (adj.)refers to what is right and
wrong (e.g. ethical standards); the
opposite: unethical
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

MORALS
moral: a practical lesson of a story (e.g. the
moral of a story)
morals or morality: standards or principles
of good behavior (e.g. public morals/morality)
morale: the amount of confidence and
enthusiasm (e.g. boost/raise/improve morale)
not considered to be good or honest is
immoral; not following any moral rules is
amoral moral
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

MEDICAL ETHICS
the relationship between doctors and patients
doctors/practitioners should act in the best
interests of people by:
giving information they need
respecting confidentiality of that
information
giving them freedom and knowledge to make
decisions (empowering them)
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

CODES OF PRACTICE
the Hippocratic Oath: written by Hippocrates,
an ancient Greek physician; Father of Medicine;
considered the first one to differentiate between
magic and medicine; it is the traditional ethical
code for doctors which they swear to upon
graduation
the Declaration of Geneva: drawn up by WMA
in 1948, an updated version from1968
the Patients Charter: keeping records
confidential (=secret, private)
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

ORIGINAL RULES OF BEHAVIOR

FOR DOCTORS
to respect teachers and colleagues
not to harm the patient
to preserve life at any cost
to respect secrets confided by patients
not to receive money for medical services
abortion, euthanasia and private practice
have made two rules outdated!
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

MODERN ETHICAL CONCERNS

the new technology brings new ethical
issues
e.g. genetic engineering (i.e. genetic
modification through direct
manipulation of DNA
research in genetics: discovering
mechanisms that affect physiology and
determine the basis for disease
the ethical problem of the knowledge
and
the utilization of the knowledge
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

TYPES OF RESEARCH

based on the type of subjects:

experiments on animals
experiments on humans

ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

ANIMAL RESEARCH
genetic experimentation with the use of
advanced technologies
cloning: reproduction by asexual means
transplantation: grafting, replacing a
diseased organ or tissue with a healthy one;
incorporation of human genes into pigs, so that
they make better organ donors for humans
the ethical issue of animal rights
What happens to pigs after the organ removal?
Do you think animal research of this sort
should be limited and to what extent? Why?
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

RESEARCH ON HUMANS

researchers should have the informed

consent of subjects
subjects agree to take part in the
experiment after being informed about all
the aspects of the research (possible risks
and dangers)
it is voluntary and provided in a written
form
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

RESEARCH ON HUMANS

medical research involving the use of a drug

and treatment
the Ethical Committee: a special body
that considers ethical aspects of the
experiment
the purpose: to protect interests of patients
it should give approval for that research
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

INDEFINITE ARTICLE (A, AN)

in front of single countable

nouns meaning ONE:
A patient came to see me this
morning.
An important question has come up
in our discussion.

ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

DEFINITE ARTICLE (THE)

superlative:
This is the best treatment that can be
provided to this patient.
The most horrible accident happened
yesterday afternoon.
comparative:
The more you study the better student
you will be.
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE

OMISSION OF ARTICLES

abstract nouns:
Health is the primary concern of
medicine.
plural nouns with general
meaning:
I love doctors.
Book, p.20
Book, Check your vocabulary, p.19, 20
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MEDICINE