Ethics & Bioethics

Danielle Nicholson Outreach Officer

REMEDI- Regenerative

Medicine Institute

NUI Galway

What is ethics?• Ethics = morality • Morality is a unique feature of humans

-Influenced by cultural factors- i.e. history, traditions, education, religion, etc

-But we share some universal experiences of duty- i.e. tell the truth, do

not harm others, do not steal, etc• Goal –To intellectually analyze the human

dimension in all of its complexity

Decision making and ethics:‘Ethical reasoning’

1. Fact deliberation

2. Value deliberation

3. Duty deliberation

4. Testing consistency

5. Conclusion

Bioethics- the bridge between facts and values

• During the second half of the 20th century, knowledge and technical power in biological sciences had been increasing continuously but reflection about the values at stake had not progressed in the same proportion.

UNESCO’s 15 Bioethical principlesHuman dignity & human rights

Benefit & harm

Autonomy-individual responsibility

Consent Persons without the capacity to consent

Human vulnerability & personal integrity

Privacy /

Confidenti-ality

Equality, Justice, Equity

Non-

discrimination

Respect

for cultural diversity

Solidarity & cooperation

Social responsibility

& health

Sharing of benefits

Protecting future generations

Protecting biodiversity,

biosphere & environment

Ethics Committees

• Conflicts often arise when people are entitled to decide and take part in decision-making processes

• Conflicts are more frequent as respect for human freedom and moral diversity increases

• Collective deliberation- the main purpose of ethics committees

Advice for collective deliberation…• Don’t fear the

‘slippery slope’

• Strive to make decisions that will protect future generations

• Consider various perspectives

• Be brave!

Thank you for your attention!