Group 3:

ETHICS Salvador, Jerson

Co, Jasmin
De Ramas, Alyssa
Latayan, Alexandria
Miranda, Krystel

BSMT SEC. 11
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics
• Respect for Autonomy
- the act of respecting the decision of others. A person should
control his/her own life.

Two Views with Respect to Autonomy:

1. Prioritization of one’s decision

- it is always the decision of the patient that prevails since such
a decision is more beneficial rather than harmful. It is also the same
patient who chooses the kind of life he/she want to live.
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics

2. Intervention from other people

- the physician chooses the best kind of life for the patient. The
legality of the action may interfere with the action done or to be
done by the physician on the patient.
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics
In medical technology laboratory services, respect for
autonomy is operationalized into the so-called “informed consent.”

To affirm informed consent, the requirements are as follows:

• The patient or surrogate must be competent

• The healthcare provider must be presented with the information
before making any therapeutic decision
• The healthcare provider must recommend the optimum options free
from any coercive force or pressuring the patient to take such option
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics
Standard Rules of Disclosure:

1.Prudent Person Rule

- the patient must know and understand the diagnosis, nature,
purpose, the risks and consequences, the costs and burdens of the
proposed treatment; and the benefits expected of such treatment

2.Subjective Substantial Disclosure

- holds that every information of the treatment should be properly
disseminated to the patient after the patient has presented his/her opinion,
beliefs, norms, and values
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics
3 Patternalism Forms:

1.Medical Patternalism
- means overriding the patient’s decision but such action may
benefit the patient.
2.Strong Patternalism
- means overriding the patient’s competent decision’s generally
rejected.
3.Weak Patternalism
- means acting on the patient’s incompetent decision’s always
justified
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics
• Beneficence
- the principle of doing an action that benefits others
Utilitarianism
- doing good means increasing the ratio of good over evil

Propositions of Beneficence:

1. Prevent the infliction of needless pain;

2. Prevent killing a person
3. Prevent incapacitating others
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics
• Non-maleficence
- the avoidance of doing “harm” to others

Propositions of Non-maleficence:

1. Do not kill
2. Do not cause needless pain
3. Do not incapacitate
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics

• Justice
- the application of legal ethics in medical technology professional
practices. This principle holds that ethical theories, especially legal ethics,
should impose fairness to everyone involved.

John Rawls
- a philosopher who formulated the theory of justice
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics
Two Fundamental Principles of Justice:

1.Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system
of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all

2.Social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both:
a. To the greatest benefit of the least advantaged
b. Attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of
fair equality of opportunity
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics
Rules of Distributive Justice:

 EQUALITY
- means all benefits and burdens are to be distributed equally

 NEED
- an extension of the egalitarian principle of equal distribution
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics
Rules of Distributive Justice:

 CONTRIBUTION
- means people should get back that proportion of social goods
that is the result of their productive labor

 EFFORT
- degree of effort made by the individual should determine the
proportion of goods received by the individual
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics
• Respect for Dignity
- an individual or group’s sense of self-respect and self-worth. It is
an assurance that a person receives the health or social care in a way that
makes him/her feel respected and helps him/her develop or maintain self-
esteem.

• Truthfulness and Honesty

- it can be defined as the avoidance of lying, deception,
misrepresentation, and non-disclosure in interactions with patients or
relevant to patient care.
 Moral Principles in Medical
Technology Ethics

• Stewardship
- an ethic that embodies the responsible planning and
management of resources. The concepts of stewardship can be applied to
the environment, nature, economics, health and property.
MORAL ISSUES AND
ETHICAL
CONSIDERATIONS
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations

Stem Cell: An Ethical Dilemma

It is impossible to respect both moral principles. To obtain

embryonic stem cells, the early embryo has to be destroyed. This means
destroying a potential human life.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
The legality or morality of the concept of euthanasia (mercy killing)
which is the act of assisting a person afflicted with an incurable disease to
commit suicide has been the topic of debates in many countries around the
world.
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Euthanasia
- committed when a person’s last act causes the death of
the patient.

Assisted Suicide
- if patient’s last action causes his/her own death.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Classification of Euthanasia:

• Voluntary Act
- if consent is given by the patient before the act of euthanasia
• Involuntary Act
- if the patient is incapable of giving consent
• Active Euthanasia
- when lethal substances or forces are used to end a patient’s life
• Passive Euthanasia
- withholding life-saving and life-prolonging treatments to patients
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations

Roles and Concerns of the Society About Euthanasia:

Palliative Care over Euthanasia

The healthcare providers simply manage the conditions of the
patients who can live as actively as possible until the moment of death
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Readiness of the Philippine Society for Euthanasia:

August 22, 2000, House Bill No. 564 (Magna Carta for Patient’s Rights)
- a patient has the right to refuse diagnostic and medical treatment
- introduced by Representatives: Raoul B. del Mar
Oscar R. Rodriguez
Hilarion J. Ramito, Jr.
Robert Ace S. Barlers
Ma. Catalina Loreto-Go
Julita Lorenzo-Villareal
Gerardo S. Espiha
Gorgonio P. Unde
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Readiness of the Philippine Society for Euthanasia:

House Bill No. 8148

- patient has the right to terminate his/her life upon will or
with the assistance of a physician.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations

Ethical Considerations of Euthanasia:

1.Norms and values of the society regarding what is morally

right

2.Norms and values that manifest in the person himself/herself

or within family members
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations

Moral Issues of Euthanasia:

In terms of religious affiliations, it is a mortal sin to commit

euthanasia because the victim can be cured by his/her own strong faith in a
Almighty God or Supreme Being.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Legal Issues and Concerns of Euthanasia:

1. The illegal conduct of euthanasia

2. Power and wealth
3. Classification as an assisted suicide
4. Lack of consent of the victim’s family members, or relatives
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
• Cloning
- can occur at the level of DNA, at the level of the single cell, or at
the level of the whole organism.

Considering bioethics in cloning, refers to different ethical issues especially

from religious and secular points of views even human therapeutic and
reproductive cloning are not presented commercially, but animals are
currently cloned and the technique is used in livestock production.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
• Artificial Birth Control
- one of the most fascinating events of human life, it symbolizes all
that is scientifically and spiritually wondrous about human life and human
body.

- the ability to control reproduction, in two ways, either preventing it;

contraception or by increasing chances of conception through fertility
treatments.

- all about giving people direct control over one of the most natural
processes known to mankind.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
• Organ Donation

Organ Transplant
- considered for a major operation which involves the
removal of a non-functioning organ to be replaced with a functioning one.

Grafting
- somewhat similar to organ transplant

One of the main ethical problems faced by organ transplant is the

shortage of available organs for transplant.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Sources of Organ Donation

• Cadaveric Organs
- are taken from dead people. In order for a person to be qualified
to donate an organ upon his/her death, he/she needs to express a written in
his/her driver’s license or through written document such as a health
contract.

In some parts of the United States, cadaveric organ donations is permitted

only when an immediate relative of the deceased provides consent,
regardless if there is an existing consent
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Sources of Organ Donation

• Living Donors of Organs

- most of the time related to the patient such as spouse, son,
daughter, brother, and sister although in some cases, people agree to
donate their organs to total strangers.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
National Marrow Program
- an organization that provide a list of willing donors

In the Philippines, organ donation is encouraged through the joint

efforts of:
Department of Health
Philippine Information Agency
Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PHILNOS)
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Recipient Waiting List
If a person in need of a transplant does not have an immediate
relative who can be a donor, the patient is placed in a waiting pool for an
available organ from a cadaver by their transplant center.

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)

- keeps a database of a list of qualified recipients for organ
transplant.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Recipient Waiting List

Upon the death of the organ donor, his/her cadaveric organs are
taken into custody by the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) and
are tested for possible matches.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Recipient Waiting List

The results are entered into a computer program that matches to

potential recipients in the waiting pool database. The program then
generates a ranked list based on the following criteria:

1. Organ type, blood type, and organ size

2. Distance from the donor organ to the patient
3. Level of medical urgency
4. Time in the waiting list
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Recipient Waiting List

Cyclosporin
- a drug that prevents the body from rejecting a
transplanted organ.

The Philippines “Organ Donation Act of 1991” updates the “1949

Act to legalize permissions to use human organs”. Under the new
legislation, each individual can donate all or nay part of his body by way of
legacy or will. The members of the family may also authorize such donation
in the absence of contrary intention by the decedent.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Life for a Price

Even with the system established by the government in the

procurement of organs for potential recipient, people still resort to the
purchase and selling of organs for transplant to go around the long waiting
list system. This scheme perhaps constitutes the major ethical issue that
organ transplantation faces.

United States banned the selling of organs through the National

Organ Transplant Act of 1984, the practice of illicit buying and selling of
organs still happens.
 Moral Issues and Ethical
Considerations
Moral Issues in Organ Donation

The rule of God is violated if an organ is removed and sold for

money. Accordingly, anything that has been part of the body since birth
should not be altered, removed or changed.

The illegal selling of organs is considered a criminal offense and is

punishable by law. People making illegal transactions should be sentenced
to life imprisonment.
PROFESSIONAL
ETHICS
 Professional Ethics

Professional ethics applies to the workforce and professionals.

Professionals act according to certain standards.

Principles of Professional Ethics

- every individual or group of individuals acting in its own capacity
usually carriers the burden of ethical responsibility
 Professional Ethics

Professional’s Ethical Behaviors:

 Impartiality and Objectivity

- a medical technologist should make impartial judgments
especially in the final release of work, they should report the result of a
laboratory examination on the basis of actual judgment and analysis

 Due Diligence
- a registered medical technologist must demonstrate due
diligence, especially in the execution of his/her work. Every laboratory
examination must be carried out with due care and diligence
 Professional Ethics

Professional’s Ethical Behaviors:

 Confidentiality
- an important value among health workers, particularly a
registered medical technologist. This controls medical records, limits
the ability of persons to testify in court based on information obtained
when providing professional services

 Fidelity to Professional Responsibilities

- as mandated by the code of ethics, dedication to work and fidelity
or loyalty to responsibilities should be observed
 Professional Ethics

Professional’s Ethical Behaviors:

 Reliability at work
- laboratory results must be treated with accuracy and reliability,
thus; a registered medical technologist must be reliable and credible

 Avoidance of Conflict of Interest

- a registered medical technologist should avoid conflicts of
interest, especially those involving one’s own personal desires or wants
 Professional Ethics

Professional’s Ethical Behaviors:

Openness and Full Disclosure

- a registered medical technologist should execute openness and
full disclosure on the basis of what has been examines. Openness and
Disclosure can be seen in any of the following instances:
1. Infectious Disease Testing
2. HIV Testing
3. Reporting of Infectious Diseases
4. Treatment and Record Keeping
5. Duty of Warn
6. Disclosure of Infectious Diseases
CODE OF ETHICS OF THE
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
PROFESSION
 Code of Ethics
• Principle of Code of Ethics 1
- a registered medical technologist must accept the responsibility of
upholding the laws in line with the profession.

• Principle of Code of Ethics 2

- a registered medical technologist must work harmoniously with
other health workers

• Principle of Code of Ethics 3

- a registered medical technologist must adopt the ethical value of
fairness with fellow medical technologists in the delivery of laboratory
services.
 Code of Ethics
• Principle of Code of Ethics 4
- a registered medical technologist must have full confidence in
showing competency in laboratory work.

• Principle of Code of Ethics 5

- a registered medical technologist must share knowledge and
contributions to professional organizations and in the field of scientific
research

• Principle of Code of Ethics 6

- a registered medical technologist must honor his/her
responsibilities to the professions and relationships with colleagues,
students, and members of other profession and disciplines.
 Code of Ethics
• Principle of Code of Ethics 7
- a registered medical technologist must take his/her responsibility
to hold paramount the welfare of persons he/she serves professionally or
who are participants in research and scholarly activities, and he/she shall
treat animals involved in research in a humane manner

• Principle of Code of Ethics 8

- a registered medical technologist must honor the dignity of the
profession and professional organization
 REFERENCES
• Suba, S.,& Milanez, G. (2017) Philippine Medical
Technology Laws and Bioethics.
• https://www.eurostemcell.org/embryonic-stem-cell-
research-ethical-dilemma
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5109382/
• https://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001359/135982
e.pdf
• http://www.markedbyteachers.com/gcse/religious-
studies-philosophy-and-ethics/the-moral-and-ethical-
issues-surrounding-artificial-birth-control.html