Chapter 3

Applied Ethics
Applied ethics
 is a branch of ethics devoted to the treatment
of moral problems, practices, and policies in
personal life, professions, technology, and
government.
 It is also called Practical Ethics, for it is the
application of ethics to real-world problems.
 It attempts to answer the question of how
people should act in specific situations.
Branches of applied ethics have developed to address
specific domains of human activity:

 Bioethics
 Work / Professional Ethics
 Business ethics
 Environmental ethics
 Legal ethics
 Media ethics
“What is the essence of life or true essence of life”

“Money is precious but life is more expensive”

or
“Life is precious but money is more important”
“The value of life or thing is
not
judged by its packaging”
Bioethics
Bioethics
 A recently coined word which comes from “bio” – life and
from “ethics” – morality
 Is the branch of Ethics which deals directly with the problems
of life and dying, of health and of healing.
 It focuses attention to the need for a healthier world in
accordance with the dictates of reason.
 Examines the ethical dimension of problems at the cutting
edge of technology, medicine, and biology in their application
to life.
 Core Principles of Bioethics

At the heart of bioethics are several foundational principles that guide

ethical decision-making in healthcare and biological sciences. These
principles include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.

1. Autonomy refers to the right of individuals to make decisions

about their own lives and bodies. In healthcare, this often translates
into the principle of informed consent, where patients must be fully
informed about the potential risks and benefits of a medical procedure
before consenting to it.
2. Beneficence is the obligation to act in the best interests
of the patient or the subject of medical research. This principle
requires healthcare professionals and researchers to maximize
the potential benefits of their actions while minimizing harm.

3. Non-maleficence complements beneficence and means

"do no harm." It is the principle that healthcare providers must
avoid causing unnecessary harm or suffering, even if their
interventions are intended to help.
4. Justice addresses the fair distribution of medical
resources and the equitable treatment of all individuals,
regardless of their background. This principle is particularly
relevant in discussions about access to healthcare, the
allocation of limited medical resources, and fairness in
medical research.
 CRIMES AGAINST HUMAN LIFE

 Suicide
 Abortion
 Mutilation
o Sterilization
 Euthanasia / Mercy Killing
• Drug addiction
 Alcoholism / Alcohol Intoxication
 Suicide
– the intentional killing of oneself and by one’s own authority. An act of terminating
one’s own life by which this act of termination is always brutal.

4 Types of Suicide

1.Egoistic Suicide – one decides to kill himself because of personal reasons

such as cowardice that lead to despair. A product of an excessive self-absorption
and the basic nature of this type of suicide is intellectual. It also happens when a
person is socially separated from other people and feel they have no place
among other people or the society, in this case, the suicide is self-centered
because the person lacks feelings due to a lack of interaction with others.
Ex. When a person with no goals or ambitions feels like an outcast
from family, community, or society.
2. Anomic Suicide – from Greek words “a” means without
and “nomos” which means law, therefore this means
disregarding the law about life.
 This is generally brought about by unfavorable situations
and events, which are unexpected or it is committed
during times of great stress or change where life becomes
too much for them to handle and it becomes meaningless
to them.
 Ex. When the market crashes - significant financial losses,
job losses, hunger
3. Fatalistic suicide – occurs when a person
decides to take his own life because he cannot
handle the rules and regulations.

Ex. A prisoner may choose to take his life because

of unbearable rules in prison.
4. Altruistic Suicide – from Latin term “alter”, meaning others. This
is the type of suicide wherein the one who does the act is motivated by
passion and love.
Ex. A soldier choosing to go to war for his family, community, country

2 elements of Altruistic Suicide:

a.Active Altruistic Suicide – This is the direct killing of oneself for the
purpose of saving others from possible danger. (ex. Titanic)
b.Passive Altruistic Suicide – This is the indirect killing of one’s self.
There is no resistance at all being imposed on the one who will kill
the person. This act cannot be considered sinful. In fact this can be
called martyrdom and not suicide.
 Committing suicide breaks relationship with God
and with others because through suicide one is led to
break dependence on God.

Christian Ethics rejects suicide for the reason that

man does not have the right of ownership over his body.
The owner and the master of life is God, suicide is,
therefore, a violation of God’s sovereign rights.
 SAD PERSON’S Scale
Mnemonics for you to understand Suicide risk
Sex = males are more successful in social acts even if suicidal ideation is more in females
Age = <18, >60 are more prone to suicide
Depression = especially that which is lifting, keep suicidal precautions when antidepressants are
expected to effect 2-3 weeks after intake. The depressed are pre-occupied about dying but don’t
have energy (anergia) to carry it out.
Previous attempt – those who attempted suicide are likely to repeat the attempt and succeed
this time
Ethanol abuse = the alcoholics are most vulnerable
Rational thinking that is impaired
Social support that is impaired
Organized plan – giving away valued possession is common; hoarding means for suicide
No spouse, or worse, nagging spouse!!!
Sickness, especially chronic or terminal
 Abortion

– is the intentional expulsion of a fetus which cannot survive by itself

outside of the womb of the mother.

Types of Abortion

1. Intentional Abortion – refers to the deliberate expulsion of a living

fetus before it becomes viable. It can be direct if there is a direct
expulsion of the fetus. It is indirect if the removal of the fetus occurs
as a secondary effect only. Example, exposing one’s self from a
rigorous physical activity will indeed cause abortion as a secondary
effect.
2. Indirect / Therapeutic abortion – is that which is
performed for the purpose of saving the life of the
mother and is regarded as morally permissible.

3. Direct / Selective abortion – is the expulsion of the

fetus by the willful wishes of the parents for purposes
other than saving the life of the mother (i.e. limit
number of children to control population growth)
4. Natural Abortion – is the natural or accidental
expulsion of the fetus. Technically speaking, this is
not yet to be considered abortion is inasmuch there
is actually no desire of killing the child. Also known
as miscarriage.

5. Eugenic abortion – the expulsion of the fetus for the

purpose of preventing the development of the
defective babies.
 Effects of
Abortion

Physical Effects
 Habitual miscarriages
 Ectopic pregnancies
 Menstrual disturbances or discomfort
 Loss of other organs
 Insomnia
 Loss of appetite
 Stillbirths
 Cold sweat
 Bleeding
 Shock
 Comatose
 Weight Loss
 Frigidity
 Intense Pain
 Perforated Uterus
 Fever
Psychological Effects

 Guilt
 Suicidal Tendencies
 Loss of Sense of fulfillment
 Mourning
 Anger
 Inability to forgive oneself
 Thwarted maternal instinct
 Hostility
 Lower self-esteem
 Self-destructive behavior
 Helplessness
 Loss of interest in sex
 Nightmares and frustrations
Pro-life advocates – adhere to the principle which calls
for the protection and preservation of human life in all
its forms

Pro-choice advocates – maintain that the mother, being

a human being, and not merely a machine of
procreation, has the right and the freedom to decide
when to continue or terminate pregnancy.
 Mutilation

– the cutting off of a limb (amputation)

or removal of an organ integral to the
human body

Ex. Female genital mutilation (FGM) –

refers to all procedures involving
partial or total removal of the female
external genitalia or other injury to the
 Contraception and Sterilization
The moral issue of contraception is concerned with the rightness and
wrongness of the use of various methods by which conception can be
prevented in the conjugal union. It is synonymous (by some writers) with
family planning, responsible parenthood, planned parenthood and birth
control.

One form of contraception is sterilization – not a positive use of artificial

method (surgical operation) by cutting off the sexual capacity which renders a
man or a woman incapable of transmitting life.

Vasectomy for male (It's done by cutting and sealing the tubes that carry
sperm) and BTL (bilateral tubal ligation) as female sterilization or having
"tubes tied".
 Types of Sterilization

1. Therapeutic sterilization – is intended to preserve the well-being of the

whole body (of the mother) and is therefore permissible.
2. Eugenic sterilization – is intended to prevent procreation in an
otherwise healthy and normal person. This is contrary to natural law
and is prohibited (forced sterilization of retardates and poor persons are
questionable since they are discriminatory and violates the human
rights of these persons).
3. Punitive sterilization – is intended as a punishment for certain criminals.
(considered as ineffective and useless since sterilization does not
extinguish criminal sexual tendencies, a sterilized rapist can still commit
the same crime
 Euthanasia / Mercy Killing

– From Greek word “Eu”, meaning easy and

“Thanatos” meaning death. It is an act of inducing
death painlessly in order to abort the suffering of one
afflicted with an incurable or unbearable sickness.
Regarded as homicide or murder and is immoral.
 3 arguments why Euthanasia can be considered morally wrong
(Gary Williams)

1. Argument from Nature – the nature of the human person is to live

and to preserve himself.
2. Argument from Self-interest – the danger of performing euthanasia
for sick patients is that it may be administered not really for the
purpose of ending the pain of the person because of the vested
interests or other consequences.
3. Argument of Practical Effects – If euthanasia will become legal
practice, doctors and other healthcare professionals may be
tempted not to do their best in order to save the patient.
 Drug Addiction

– is the state of psychic or physical dependence, or both,

on a dangerous drug, arising in a person following the
administration or use of drug on a periodic or
continuous basis. Such abuse of drugs and chemicals
affect adversely the mind and body and many crimes are
traced to drug addiction.
 Effects of Drug Addiction

- A weakened immune system, increasing the risk of illness and infection

- Heart conditions ranging from abnormal heart rates to heart attacks and
collapsed veins and blood vessel infections from injected drugs
- Nausea and abdominal pain, which can also lead to changes in appetite and
weight loss
- Increased strain on the liver, which puts the person at risk of significant liver
damage or liver failure
- Seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage
- Lung disease
- Problems with memory, attention and decision-making, which make daily living
more difficult
- Global effects of drugs on the body, such as breast development in men and
increases in body temperature, which can lead to other health problems
 Alcoholism / Alcohol Intoxication

- is the state of dependence on the stimulation of wine and liquor. In

extreme cases, it has the same evil effects of drug addiction.
- Caused by the depressant action of alcohol on the nervous system
- most abused drug, a psychotropic drug, a CNS depressant
- Alcohol stimulates the release of endorphins and en(c)kephalins =
body’s natural painkillers (body opioid, which turn on the central
dopamine reward system)
- Alcohol is absorbed quickly in the stomach (20%), and small intestine
(80%) and is metabolized by the liver within 12-24 hours
Intoxication occurs when blood alcohol level (BAL)
reaches 100-150 mg/dl or .15% = legal definition of
intoxication
@ .40% and above = coma
@ .50% = respiratory depression, cardiac arrest, and
death can occur
Manifestations of Alcoholism:

Drowsiness, decreased coordination, slurring of speech,

belligerence, grandiosity, uninhibited behavior, odor of
alcohol in breath and clothing, hypoventilation,
hypotension, stupor, sedation, relaxation, impaired
judgment (suicide), slowed reflexes, euphoria, sexual
dysfunction
Reasons why intoxication should be condemned:

- In order to distinguish right from wrong and have the will

power to resist evil.
- It affects the family and the society
- Alcoholism will always be regarded as immoral if it is a habit
 Autonomy, Competence, Minor, Consent & Confidentiality in Bioethics

Autonomy

Autonomy grants every competent adult patient the absolute right to do what
he wishes with his own health care. Although beneficence- or doing what is
good for people is a high aim and ethical principle, autonomy is considered
more important and takes precedence. Types of Autonomy: Behavior,
Emotional, Cognitive.
Competence

The ability to do something successfully or efficiently. State of having sufficient

knowledge, judgment, skill or strength. Competence is LEGAL term.
 Emancipation

A process of being set free from legal, social, or political restriction

Exceptions to the areas of emancipation (1) Prenatal care (2)
Contraception (3) STDs (4) Substance Abuse

Emancipated Minor
A small number of minors, particularly at older ages such as 15- 17,
may be considered “emancipated” or freed of the need to have
parental consent for any medical care
The criteria are that the minor is married, self-supporting and living
independently, in the military. or the parent of a child that they
themselves support
 Consent

Is the voluntary agreement that a patient gives to allow a medically trained person the
permission to touch, examine, and perform a treatment

Two types of Consent are: (1) Informed Consent (2) Implied Consent

Informed Consent
Means that the patient agrees to the proposed course of treatment after having been told
about the possible consequences of having or not having certain procedures and treatments
the goal of informed consent is to protect patients’ rights to decide for themselves about their
own treatment

Implied Consent
Patient indicates by behavior that he or she accepts procedure (i.e., offers arm to have blood
sample drawn)
A consent is assumed in medical emergencies when patient cannot respond to give consent
 Confidentiality

The patient information must be kept secret or private

Confidentiality also includes keeping a patient’s medical information
private even from his friends and family unless patient expressly says it is
okay to release the information

Release of Information
Information transfer between physicians involved in the care of patients is
a common occurrence. However, the information can only be transferred if
the patient has signed a consent release from requesting the transfer of
information.