1. Thinking like a Bioethicists
Four Key Questions
Thinking like a Bioethicists

2. Q1: What is the ethical question?
The ability to see the ethical dimensions of a given situation
“Moral imagination” or “Moral sensitivity”
The ability to distinguish an ethical question
Legal?
Scientific?
Personal-preference?

3. Q2: What are relevant facts?
Sci. facts are important
Ex: Manditory Vaccinations
Stats about efficacy
Side-effects
Harms
Social Facts are also important
Social and/or Religious considerations
Culture concerns

4. Q3: Who or what could be affected by the way the question gets resolved?
Must think about those that will be affected
Physically
Emotionally
Economically
Walk a mile in their shoes…….

5. Q4: What are relevant ethical considerations?
Core:
Respect for persons
If one person’s organs can save 10+ lives, ethical violation to take that life
LISTENING
Minimizing harms while maximizing benefits
Important consideration
“First, do no harm”- NONMALEFICENCE
Fairness
Social justice

6. Elements of a strong justification:
High degree of relevance to the ethical question
Reference to the most important science and social science facts
Description of the potential effects of decision
Identifying and applying the relevant core ethical considerations
Analysis of the ways the recommended course of action satisfies those considerations
Strengths and weaknesses of other solutions
Logical reasoning