Transcript bioethics.intro.2015 Bioethics Intro.Sep2015

Introduction to Bioethics
• Learning Objectives
(SWBAT) Students will be able to engage in
respectful dialogue to come to a group
decision about a conflict.
SWBAT distinguish between different ethical
principles and apply them to an ethical
dilemma.
Scenario
A newly evolved strain of deadly bacteria has
recently emerged and is spreading through the
human population. The bacteria is resistant to
nearly all antibiotics and has a very high death rate
(over 75% of those infected die). Only one antibiotic
is effective against the disease.
TASK
The following people in your community have
become infected with the deadly bacteria, but
there is not enough antibiotics to go around.
There is only enough of the special medicine
for seven people. You need to decide which of
the people below will be given the antibiotic
treatment.
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Research technician that makes the antibiotic.
58 year-old Mayor of community affected.
Pregnant mother and her 2 year old child.
Nurse working as a public health specialist.
Grandmother of 17 grandchildren.
Emergency responder.
Young married couple.
16 year-old twins
Directions
• In teams, discuss who you think should get the antibiotic
treatments. Be respectful of others viewpoints and
encourage everyone to share their ideas.
• Come to a group decision as to who will get antibiotics.
Remember, only 7 people can receive the antibiotic
treatment and those that do not get the treatment have a
75% chance of death.
• Make a list that shows who will get the antibiotics and a
separate list that shows who will not get the antibiotic
treatments.
• For each person in the community, provide a brief written
explanation justifying your decision to provide (or not
provide) the antibiotics.
Team Reports
&
Class Discussion
NOTES
Write definitions in your packet
• Ethics: a way to make decisions that
attempts to determine the best course of
action in the face of conflicting choices.
Ethical decisions try to balance:
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Doing good (beneficence)
Not doing harm (non-malificence)
Justice
Autonomy(respect)
Doing good (beneficence)
• How can we do the most good?
• Examine the different solutions…which would
accomplish the most good?
Not doing harm (non-malificence)
• How can we do the least harm?
• What kinds of harms might arise from different
solutions?
Justice
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What would be fair?
Equal is not always fair.
How can we treat others equitably?
Making sure the “vulnerable” party is safe.
Autonomy(respect)
• People have right to participate in decisions that
influence them.
• How can we respect people and their right to make their
own choices?
DISCUSSION & REFLECTION
Fact or Fiction
Although the scenario is
fictitious, ‘superbugs’
or bacteria that have
evolved resistance to
antibiotics is very real.
Diseases such as
MRSA (staph
infections),
tuberculosis and more
recently NDM-1 are all
examples of strains of
bacteria that are
antibiotic resistant.
A new example: the Heinz Dilemma
• Mr. Heinz is normally a law-abiding man. One day,
his wife becomes gravely ill. Heinz takes her to the
doctor, who prescribes a medication for her. She
does quite well on this medication and begins to
recover. However, Heinz has no insurance and runs
out of money quickly paying for the expensive
medication. After a few months, he can no longer
purchase the medication and his wife begins to take
a turn for the worse. One day, he is in the pharmacy
and notices that no one is behind the counter. The
medication is in plain view. Should he steal the
medication to help his sick wife?
Complete…
The Heinz dilemma:
1. What should Mr. Heinz do?
2. For each of the different ethical principles,
Do good / Do no harm / Justice / Autonomy,
evaluate the different possible resolutions.
In other words: What do you think Heinz
should do? Please justify your position
using all 4 ethical principles.
*Write your response in your journal.