What Is Bioethics? Theoretical Bases And Objectives
Throughout the history of humanity, human rights have been violated on multiple occasions, there have been negative and positive repercussions on the scientific advances of biomedicine on human life, and the advancement of industrial society has been prioritized at the expense of damage that could be generated in ecosystems. In response, as an awareness, A new area within general ethics was created a few decades ago: bioethics
As we will see, defining bioethics is not simple. There is a large number of guidelines that make up bioethics, which nourish it for the analysis and resolution of problems that have justified its appearance.
Bioethics is a branch of ethics, responsible for providing and examining the most appropriate principles of conduct for human beings in relation to life (human, animal and plant life). Among the multiple definitions that exist of bioethics, we can affirm that it is the systematic study of human behavior in the field of life sciences and health care, examined in the light of values and moral principles. .
We must clarify that unlike medical ethics, bioethics is not limited to the medical environment, but addresses multiple issues (e.g., environment and animal rights).
In short, it is about the ethical reflection of the moral problems of the contemporary plural society in which we are immersed. Above all, it is focused on professions that are part of the health field, such as Clinical Psychology.
Some of the best-known topics within applied bioethics are:
Brief historical evolution
It is a relatively young discipline, as it has less than half a century of history Furthermore, it has become an area of mandatory study within research and medicine, and over the last 30 years its body of knowledge has expanded, becoming one of the most up-to-date branches of ethics.
The author of the origin of the term is somewhat controversial: some advocate the German theologian and philosopher Fritz Jahr (1927), who used the term Bio-Ethik in an article related to ethics towards plants and animals. Other authors highlight the biochemist oncologist Potter, who in 1970 used the term bio-ethics in an article, and a year later published a text titled “Bioethics: bridge to the future.”
But if we have something to highlight in the history of bioethics, it is the Belmont Report (1978). It was born as a result of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research in the United States, after the ravages of the well-known Tuskegee experiment (on untreated syphilis in African-American people). This text includes the principles or criteria to guide research with human beings in biomedicine. Today the Belmont Report is still considered a reference text for researchers.
Great principles of Bioethics
Next we are going to explain the four great principles of bioethics, proposed by Beauchamp and Childress (1979):
1. Autonomy
Autonomy reflects the person’s ability to make decisions about oneself without external influence, privacy and self-determination. This principle may not be applied when situations arise in which the person cannot be 100% autonomous or has reduced autonomy (e.g., vegetative state).
The maximum expression of this principle would be the patient’s informed consent. It is a right of the patient and a duty of the professional who cares for them. In this sense, the patient’s preferences and values must be recognized and respected. This principle is also applied in Psychology, and informed consent must always be obtained from patients, whether adults or children (through their parents or legal guardians).
It is the obligation and duty of the professional to act for the benefit of the patient or others. The aim is to promote the patient’s legitimate interests and suppress her prejudices as much as possible. It would be like “doing what is best for the patient.”
The problem that arises from this principle is that sometimes the benefit of the patient is promoted but without taking into account his opinion (e.g., the doctor has training and knowledge that the patient does not have, so the doctor freely decides what is best for the person). That is, in these cases the opinion of the patient or sick person is disregarded due to their lack of knowledge.
The principle of beneficence depends on that of autonomy it would be like doing the good that the patient consents to or requests.
3. Justice
This principle seeks equality and reduce discrimination based on ideological, social, cultural, economic, race, gender, sexual orientation, etc It is recognized that all people have the right to the benefits of medicine, or psychology, for example. The aim is to provide all patients with the same quality, care and services in all interventions.
In psychology, for example, discrimination or prejudice of any kind is not accepted.
This principle is applied in a qualitatively different way depending on the country. For example, in the United States medical care is based on insurance contracted with private companies, so there could be discrimination for economic reasons. In Spain, healthcare is free and universal, based on a principle of need.
This principle is based on the abstention from carrying out acts that are intentionally harmful to the person. That is, not unjustifiably or unnecessarily harm the other. In some disciplines this principle can be interpreted with nuances, for example:
In medicine, sometimes medical actions cause harm to the patient but the goal is to obtain their well-being (e.g., a surgical intervention). In Psychology, asking the patient to systematically and gradually expose themselves to situations that generate anxiety, fear, anger, etc., may cause harm or pain to them, but the ultimate goal is their psychological well-being and overcoming problems. issues.
There are other considerations in this principle: The professional must commit to having training based on solid and scientific knowledge you must update your knowledge (based on evidence and not pseudoscience) permanently to practice at a professional level, and you must research new treatments or therapies in order to improve and offer your patients the best care.
As the psychologists’ code of ethics says, “without prejudice to the legitimate diversity of theories, schools and methods, the Psychologist will not use means or procedures that are not sufficiently proven, within the limits of current scientific knowledge. In the case of research to test new techniques or instruments, not yet proven, it will inform its clients before using them” (…) “The continued effort to update their professional competence is part of their work.” ”.
