Transcript Bioethics

Mr. Fleming

Ethics
◦ Field of study that looks at the moral basis of
human behavior.
◦ Determine best decision in a tough scenario

Bioethics
◦ Ethics for life sciences.
◦ Helps us best determine how to use new scientific
knowledge.

Some questions include:
“How should we decide who receives organ
transplants?”
“Should a terminally ill patient be allowed to
end his/her life with physician-prescribed
medication?”

Often involve the words “ought” or “should”
implying a difficult decision must be made.
Select which question out of the following three
questions is the ethical question.
1.
2.
3.
Is it legal to sell human kidneys in the United
States?
How does kidney function inside the body?
Should individuals who donate a kidney
choose who their organ should go to?

Legal
◦ Questions ask what the law says about a particular
issue.

Scientific
◦ Questions can be explored through scientific
inquiry and observation.

Religious/Cultural
◦ Questions ask what would be in line with a
particular belief or practice or common practices of
a particular culture.

Personal Preference
◦ Questions related directly to the speaker and are
often multiplied by cultural bias
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