Define Law A System of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible Shapes politics, economics and society Serves as a social mediator between people Regulates everything

Introducing Ethics http://www.tbs.com/video/index.jsp?oid=219850&cid=428105

Ethics Ethics is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality, concepts such as good & evil, right & wrong, virtue and vice, justice & crime

Branches of Ethics Meta-Ethics: How truth is determined Normative Ethics: Practical means of determining a moral course of action, what is Right or Wrong? Applied Ethics: how moral outcomes can be achieved in specific situation

So What is Ethics? First response many people tend to equate ethics with their feelings May recoil from what is right because of feelings Although feelings often arise from what is ethical

So What is Ethics? Second response people connect ethics to religion But then ethics would apply only to religious people But ethics applies to all

So What is Ethics? Third response people view ethics as the same thing as the law Ethical standards are often part of a law Laws like feeling can deviate from ethics

So What is Ethics? Last, many view ethics as doing “whatever society accepts” Most society standards are in fact ethical But those standards of behavior can deviate from what is ethical

What does Ethics Mean to You? "Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong." "Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs." "Being ethical is doing what the law requires." "Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society accepts." "I don't know what the word means."

Ethics is… 1) Well- founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations benefits to society, fairness, specific virtues

Ethics is… 2) Study and development of one’s ethical standards

Bioethics Study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine Ethical Questions involving: Life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law and philosophy

Bioethics Term was coined in 1927 by Fritz Jahr Anticipated issues with animal research Gained attention with Nazi Biomedical experiments

“Coining” of Bioethics 1970 by U.S. Biochemist Van Rensselaer Potter II Defined as: “Biology combined with diverse humanistic knowledge forging a science that sets a system of medical & environmental priorities for acceptable survival.”

Bioethics Today Technological advances Organ transplantation End-of-Life care Boundaries of life Health care rationing Right to refuse

Politics and Bioethics http://bigthink.com/ideas/16345

Bioethics Principles 1974 ethical principles that should be applied to biomedical and behavioral research involving human subjects

Bioethical Terms Autonomy: Capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision

Bioethical Terms Beneficence: Actions that promote the well being of others Taking actions that serve the best interest of patients

Bioethical Terms Non-Maleficence: “First, do no harm” Is it more important not to harm your patient, than to do them good?

Bioethical Terms Justice: A concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity The act of being just and/or fair

Bioethical Terms Human Dignity: Humans have the innate right to respect and ethical treatment