PRINCIPLE

S OF 
HEALTH 
ETHICS
ETHICAL DILEMMA
 Value conflicts

 No clear consensus as to the “right” thing to do.

 A conflict between moral obligations that are difficult to

reconcile and require moral reasoning.

 When you have to judge what is right or wrong

 Choosing between options

 Deciding whether to do something or do nothing

 Should I or shouldn’t I?

 Weighing up the potential impact of your decisions or

actions

 A dilemma – making a difficult choice

ETHICAL 
PRINCIPLES
 Conflict is inevitable.
 Ethical principles provide the framework/
tools which may facilitate individuals and
society to resolve conflict in a fair, just
and moral manner.
PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH 
ETHICS
AUTONOMY
BENEFICENCE
NON-MALEFICENCE
JUSTICE
AUTONOMY
 SELF RULE
 PATIENT’S MOST BASIC RIGHT

 THE PATIENT HAS THE CAPACITY TO ACT

INTENTIONALLY, WITH UNDERSTANDING, &
WITHOUT CONTROLLING INFLUENCES THAT
WOULD MITIGATE AGAINST A FREE &
VOLUNTARY ACT
 INORMED CONSENT – OUTCOME OF THIS
PRINCIPLE
EXAMPLE
 Zoro is in a life-threatening case
where a blood transfusion is required
to save his life.
 Zoro, a Jehovah’s witness, have a
belief that it is wrong to accept a blood
transfusion.
 Zoro must be informed.

 The consequences of refusing a blood

transfusion must be made clear.
Desiring to “benefit” the patient,
Dr. Chopper may strongly want to
provide a blood transfusion, believing
it to be a clear “medical benefit”.
 When properly & compassionately
informed, Zoro is then free to choose
whether to accept the blood
transfusion in keeping with a strong
desire to live, or whether to refuse the
blood transfusion in giving a greater
priority to his religious convictions
about the wrongness of blood
transfusions, even to the point of
accepting his death.
BENEFICENCE
 TO DO GOOD
 THIS PRINCIPLE COUNSELS A PROVIDER
TO RELATE TO CLIENTS IN A WAY THAT
WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF THE CLIENT, RATHER THAN THE
PROVIDER
 THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL
SHOULD ACT IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS
THE PATIENT
BENEFICENCE
 BENEFIT – SHOULD BE DEFINED BY THE
PERSON THEMSELVES.
 IT
IS NOT WHAT WE THINK THAT IS
IMPORTANT
EXAMPLE
 When the patient is incapacitated by the grave
nature of accident or illness, we presume that the
reasonable person would want to be treated
aggressively, and we rush to provide beneficent
intervention by stemming the bleeding, mending the
broken or suturing the wounded.
NON­MALEFICENCE
 TO DO NO HARM
 THIS PRINCIPLE REQUIRES HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS TO NOT INTENTIONALLY
CREATE A NEEDLESS HARM OR INJURY TO
THE PATIENT
 IT IS AN ACT OF NEGLIGENCE IF ONE
IMPOSES A CARELESS OR UNREASONABLE
RISK OF HARM UPON A PATIENT
 IT AFFIRMS THE NEED FOR MEDICAL
COMPTETENCE
EXAMPLE
 How to best treat a pregnant woman newly diagnosed with
cancer of the uterus. The usual treatment, removal of the
uterus is considered a life saving treatment. However, this
procedure would result in the death of the fetus.
 What action is morally allowable, or, what is our duty? It is
argued in this case that the woman has the right to self-
defense, and the action of the hysterectomy is aimed at
preserving her life. The unintended consequence (though
undesired) is the death of the fetus.
NON­MALEFICENCE
1. The action itself must not be
intrinsically wrong, it must be a good or
neutral act.
2. Only the good effect must be intended,
not the bad effect, even though it is
foreseen.
3. The bad effect must not be the means of
the good effect,
4. The good effect must outweigh the evil
that is permitted
JUSTICE
 GIVING TO EACH WHAT IS DUE
 ACTING IN A NON-DISCRIMINATING WAY

 RESPECT FOR PEOPLE’S RIGHTS

 RESPECT FOR THE LAW

 SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY YOUR

ACTIONS IN EVERY SITUATION
JUSTICE
 DEMANDS THAT THE HEALTH
PRACTITIONER SHOULD TRY TO BE AS
FAIR AS POSSIBLE WHEN OFFERING
TREATMENT TO PATIENTS &
ALLOCATING SCARCE MEDICAL
RESOURCES
JUSTICE
 The principle that deals with
fairness, equity and equality and
provides for an individual to claim
that to which they are entitled.
 Comparative Justice: Making a
decision based on criteria and
outcomes. ie: How to determine who
qualifies for one available kidney. 55
year old male with three children
versus a 13 old girl.
 Non-comparative Justice: ie: a method
of distributing needed kidneys using a
lottery system.
ETHICAL 
RULES
ETHICAL RULES
VERACITY
PRIVACY
CONFIDENTIALITY
FIDELITY
VERACITY
 THE PRINCIPLE OF TRUTH TELLING
 IT IS GROUNDED IN RESPECT FOR
PERSONS & THE CONCEPT OF
AUTONOMY
 INFORMED CONSENT

 VIOLATED BY: LYING, OMISSION,

DELIBERATE CLOAKING OF
INFORMATION
PRIVACY
 A PERSONS RIGHT TO REMAIN PRIVATE
 TO NOT DISCLOSE INFORMATION
CONFIDENTIALITY
 ONLY SHARING PRIVATE INFORMATION
ON A NEED TO KNOW BASIS
FIDELITY
 LOYALTY
 MAINTAINING THE DUTY TO CARE FOR
ALL NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE OR
WHAT THEY MAY HAVE DONE
 STRICT OBSERVANCE OF
PROMISES OR DUTIES.
 THIS PRINCIPLE, AS WELL AS
OTHER PRINCIPLES, SHOULD BE
HONORED BY BOTH PROVIDER AND
CLIENT.
ETHICAL THEORIES
CONSEQUENTIALISM
DEONTOLOGY
DEONTOLOGY
 DUTY OR PRINCIPLE BASE THEORY
 BASING OUR ACTIONS ON A SET OF
PRINCIPLES OR DUTIES
 AN ACT IS RIGHT IF IT CONFORMS TO AN
OVERRIDING MORAL DUTY
DEONTOLOGY
 the Greek word, “Deon”, meaning duty.
 Considers that some acts are right or
wrong independent of their
consequences.
 Looks to one’s obligation to determine
what is ethical and answers the question:
What should I do and why should I do it?
Deontology: A duty

Example: Zelda, a practitioner, believes she has a

duty to give cardiac clients detailed information on

the pathology involved in their condition even

though the client has indicated that they are not

ready or may be terrified to hear the information

causing the client distress.

CONSEQUENTIALISM
 TAKING THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR
ACTIONS INTO CONSIDERATION
 UTILITARAINISM – TYPE OF
CONSEQUENTIALISM
 ACTIONSOUT TO PRODUCE THE MAXIMAL
BALANCE OF POSITIVE VALUE OVER
DISVALUE
CONSEQUENTIALISM
 Teleological
 Greek word “Telos”, meaning end or consequence.
 Actions are determined and justified by the
consequence of the act.
 Consequentialists consider all the consequences of
what they are about to do prior to deciding a right
action.
 What should I do and why should I do it?
Consequentialism: Action

Example: Had Zelda respected the wishes of her

clients, she would have given them only the
information which would have been a benefit to
them and not caused them undue stress. She
would have been motivated by her desire to do
good (beneficence), rather than her sense of duty.
This is a Deontological betrayal.
QUIZ # 2
GET 1 WHOLE YELLOW PAD
ANSWER THE FF:

1. DEFINE AUTONOMY
2. DEFINE BENEFICENCE
3. DEFINE NON-MALEFICENCE
4. DEFINE JUSTICE
QUIZ # 2
 You are on a sinking ship and there is only ONE
lifeboat available. Posted on the side of the lifeboat
is a sign which reads, “Maximum Occupancy” - 8
persons…this boat will sink if over occupied.”
Standing on the deck and waiting on board the
lifeboat are nine adults and one child.

 You must decide who dies. Defend your decision.

CHOOSE!!!
Persons on deck
 You
 A young mother and her infant son
 A 75 year old retired physician
 His 68 year old wife
 A 17 year old, pregnant girl

(this counts as one person)

 A professional athlete (male)
 A member of the clergy
 A middle aged school teacher and
 Her husband, a banker
 CHRISTIAN 
ANTHROPOL
OGY
JACKLYN RISIA D. SAN GABRIEL
CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY
 ANTHROPOLOGY
 STUDY OF HUMANITY
CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY
 STUDY OF HUMANITY FROM A BIBLICAL
PERSPECTIVE
 PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE NATURE
OF HUMANITY – HOW THE IMMATERIAL &
MATERIAL ASPECTS OF MAN RELATE TO
EACH OTHER
 AFFIRMS THE CHRISTIAN GOD WHO IS
LOVE, TRUTH & TRIUNE
•Christian Anthropology deals with who we are and how we
relate to God.

•Whether people are inherently good or inherently sinful is

crucial in determining how our relationship with God can be
restored.

•Whether the souls of human beings carry on after death

determines in large part our view of our purpose in this world.
 Christian Anthropology helps us to understand
ourselves from God's perspective.
 When we delve into this subject, we get a clearer
understanding of our fallen nature, and this leads to
a sense of wonder at the love of the Savior who
saw our helpless state and went to the cross to
redeem us.
 When we accept that sacrifice and appropriate it as
our own, our natures are transformed by God who
creates in us a completely new person
It is this new person
who can relate to
Him as we should,
as His adored
children.
SEATWORK # 1
 GET ½ SHEET OF YELLOW PAPER:
 IN RELATION TO OUR TOPIC
TODAY:
 PICK 1 QUOTE THAT DEFINES YOU
AS A CHRISTIAN
 AND IF PERHAPS YOU ARE NOT,
PICK 1 QUOTE THAT DEFINES
CHRISTIANITY IN YOUR OWN
PERSEPECTIVE.
IF YOU ARE NOT AS CLOSE TO GOD AS YOU
USED TO BE, WHO MOVED?

THEWORST MOMENT FOR THE ATHEIST IS

WHEN HE IS REALLY THANKFL, & HAS NOBODY
TO THANK

EVERY EVENING I TURN MY WORRIES OVER TO

GOD. HE’S GOING TO BE UP ALL NIGHT
ANYWAY
THE REAL ATTITUDE OF SIN IN THE HEART
TOWARDS GOD IS THAT OF BEING WITHOUT
GOD

THE GREATEST ACT OF FAITH TAKES PLACE

WHEN A MAN FINALLY DECIDES THAT HE IS NOT
GOD

I WOULD RATHER WALK WITH GOD IN THE

DARK THAN GO ALONE IN THE LIGHT
 LIVE AS THOUGH CHRIST DIED YESTERDAY, ROSE
FROM THE GRAVE TODAY, IS COMING BACK
TOMORROW

A MAN CAN NO MORE DIMINISH GOD’S GLORY BY

REFUSING TO WORSHIP HIM THAN A LUNATIC CAN
PUT OUT THE SUN BY SCRIBBLING THE WORD,
‘DARKNESS’ ON THE WALLS OF HIS CELL

 ANY FOOL CAN COUNT THE SEEDS IN AN APPLE.

ONLY GOD CAN COUNT ALL THE APPLES IN ONE SEED
 GOD CANNOT GIVE US A HAPPINESS &
PEACE APART FROM HIMSELF, BECAUSE IT
IS NOT THERE. THERE IS NO SUCH THING.

YOU DO WELL TO BELIEVE IN GOD. SATAN

ALSO BELIEVES & TREMBLES

NO TWO CHRISTIANS WILL EVER MEET FOR

THE LAST TIME
  WE
TURN TO GOD FOR HELP WHEN OUR
FOUNDATIONS ARE SHAKING. ONLY TO LEARN THAT
IS GOD SHAKING THEM.

I BELIEVE IN CHRISTIANITY AS I BELIEVE THAT THE

SUN HAS RISEN, NOT ONLY BECAUSE I SEE IT, BY
BECAUSE BY IT I SEE EVERYTHING ELSE

AHEATHEN PHILOSOPHER ONCE ASKED A CHRISTIAN

“WHERE IS GOD?”. THE CHRISTIAN ANSWERED “LET
ME FIRST ASK YOU, WHERE IS HE NOT?”
 FOR WHEN WE CEASE TO WORSHIP GOD, WE DO NOT
WORSHIP NOTHING, WE WORSHIP ANYTHING

 THE
CHRISTIAN IDEAL HAS NOT BEEN TRIED & FOUND
WANTING; IT HAS BEEN FOUND DIFFICULT & LEFT
UNTRIED

 HOW IS IT THEY LIVE IN SUCH HARMONY THE

BILLIONS OF STARS – WHEN MOST MEN CAN BARELY
GO A MINUTE WITHOUT DECLARING WAR IN THEIR
MINDS ABOUT SOMEONE THEY KNOW
 TO ONE WHO HAS FAITH, NO
EXPLANATION IS NECESSARY. TO ONE
WITHOUT FAITH, NO EXPLANATION IS
POSSIBLE