Bioethics Presentation
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Transcript of Bioethics Presentation
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BY: GROUP 3-A
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is the direct willful destruction of ones ownlife
It is willful in so far a deliberate, voluntary and
intentional: and it is destructive in so far asthe means of terminating ones own life is,more often than not, violent, brutal or veryharsh.
Suicide as an act of self-destruction, indicatesfor an individual, for various reasons no longerregards life as worth living.
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religious
cultural
personal
financial
Social
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RELIGIOUS REASONS
In recent times, even from Roman Catholic,
Irishmen, and Buddhist Vietnamese have
committed suicide through self-immolation or
self-starvation in order to achieve political
objective.
the Buddhist monks who burned themselves
to death in protest against tyranny ofVietnam.
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RELIGIOUS REASONS
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CULTURAL REASONS
The kamikaze pilots during the WWII viewed suicide asa heroic act of sacrifice for their country.
Moreover, the Japanese Shintoists believe that onewho dies for ones country becomes one of the deities.
This explains the unconditional readiness andwillingness of the Japanese soldiers to die for their owncountry during a war (e.g. suicide-pilot squadron andthe practice of hara-kiri). For the Shintoists claim that
even their spirits (soul) can help defend their land fromexternal aggressors.
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CULTURAL REASONS
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PERSONAL REASONS
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The personal reasons may include:
1. Misfortune and frustration in love or
marriage. (e.g. desertion by ones beloved
spouse)
2. Parental indifference or apathy towards ones
boyfriend/girlfriend.
3. In-law problems especially if victims live
with their parents in-law.
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The personal reasons may include:
1. Failure in an examination.
2. Loss of honor and integrity. (e.g. shame and
self-pity resulting from pregnancy caused by
rape or incest)
3. Nervous breakdown due to ones inability to
cope with lifes problems. (e.g. culture shock,
inability to adjust to new situations or new
responsibilities)
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FINANCIAL REASONS
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FINANCIAL REASONS
1. Poverty and impoverishment. (e.g. parents
and children burn themselves to death
because of extreme deprivation )
2. Great loss of money or collapse of business
venture
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SOCIAL AND POLITICAL REASONS
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Social and political reasons include:
1. Failed coup dtat. (e.g. many of the coup
plotters against Mikhail; Gorbachew who
failed, resorted to suicide.
2. Protest against mans inhumanity to man.
(e.g. the practice of self-immolation among
the Buddhist monks)
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Flavius Josephus
a famous soldier, statesman and historian who
was the commander of a defeated army
Against his soldiers wishes to kill themselves and
avoid surrender in shame.
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Josephus argued:
1. Suicide is a crime which is contrary to thecommon nature of all animals (e.g. the
instinct of survival - animals) are all naturallyinclined to preserve themselves; and
2. The soul is the depositum(deposited for
safekeeping) received from God, so that tokill oneself is contrary to the divine will, andis hence a wicked act
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St. Augustine
was Bishop of Hippo . He was a Latin-speaking
philosopher and theologian who lived in the
Roman Africa Province. His writings were veryinfluential in the development of Western
Christianity.
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St. Augustine contented:
1. Suicide is itself a greater sin than any and all sins
that could allegedly avoided bycommitting it;
2. Self-murder is against the fifth
commandment ("Thou shalt not kill.")
3. Suicide deprives one of the opportunity to
repent; and4. It is an ignoble act through which one attempts
to escape the ills of life (Wiliams 1972:43).
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St. Thomas Aquinas
was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic
Church, and an immensely influential philosopher
and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism,known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or
Doctor Universalis.
He was the foremost classical proponent of
natural theology
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St. Thomas three fold argument:
1. Suicide is against natural law (e.g., ournatural inclination of self-preservation and
conservation) this is a sort of self-kindness orcharity that one owes oneself.
2. Being a member of a society, a person who killshimself will deprive the community (e.g., family,
relatives, friends, coworker) of his activity - theylikewise will be affected by his sudden, if notviolent, death; and
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3.) Suicide is a usurpation of God's function - Life
is God's gift to man, & hence suicide
involves an arrogant act which one is not a
liberty to perform (Wiliams 1972:43).
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Michael de Montaigne French essayist and skeptical philosopher, was the
first to explicitly question the views of Augustine
and Aquinas.
He argued: if and when an individual reaches apoint where what he feels is terrible pain, agony,
and misery, then suicide becomes excusable-
permissible.
In his view ones fear of suffering that is worse
than death itself is the most excusable incitement
to self-killing
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John Dome
a British clergyman and a religious writer, criticizedthe Christian prohibition of suicide as a self-serving forcapitalists and Christian authorities who exploit andoppress their laborers.
He explained that the proscription of the Church ismerely a part of the economic enslavement oflaborers.
Suicide, in his view, is a means of liberating oneself
from exploitation and oppression. Thus, the probationof suicide is surreptitious way of preventing themasses from escaping the tasks expected of them bythe prohibitors.
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Baron de Montesquieu a philosopher and political theorist, also justified
suicide by saying:
1. It is unjust to compel a person to labor for a society
he no longer consents to be a member of. Thisjustifies the act of terminating ones own life;
2. The act of suicide does not disturb the order of
providence, nor does any other human act alter the
modifications of matter; and
3. Though the soul is separated from the body the
order or regularity in the universe never changes
(Williams 1972:43)
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David Hume
Scottish philosopher defended suicide:
a) The removal of misery makes suicide morallyjustifiable and permissible; to bear unbearable pain is
in no way part of a natural inclination;b) Moral duty is reciprocal; while alive and healthy, it is
my bounden duty to render service to society as itprotects me in return, but when my life becomes aliability and a burden to society, my withdrawal is notonly innocent but laudable;
c) There is no such thing as order designed by God;mans life is as disposable as that of an oysters(William 1972:43-44)
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Natural law ethics
with its principle of stewardship considers suicide
as self-murder
An individual has no right to murder himself as he
has no right to murder someone else.
Only an individual who has dominion over a thing
has the right to destroy it. No individual, however,has dominion over his life, for it is but a gift to
him.
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Natural law ethics
No person has acquired it through his own effort
and industry. He hasnt purchased it but ratherreceived it as a gift from God; hence, the latter
alone has dominion over an individuals life. A
person is only a steward, a caretaker at most.
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The utilitarians principle of utility
utility seems to be in keeping with the argumentthat an individual may deliberately terminate his
own life if and when suffering becomes too muchto bear.
Besides, whenever one has become a financialburden and a liability due to prolonged, incurable
disease, then an appeal to the greatest happinessfor the greatest number principle becomesjustifiable. This is arguable, however.
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Kants ethics
within the context of the categorical imperatives notusing oneself only as means but always as an end,may be taken as a rejection or prohibition of suicide.
On the other hand, advocates of the principle ofautonomy (or right of self-determination) may appealto Kants concept of a rational beings autonomy andself-regulating will to support and justify their
argument that an individual not only has a duty topreserve his life, but also to die with dignity if andwhen the situation warrants such a moral decision.
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The conduct of clinicians is guided by ethicscodes that provide nominal protection to suicidalclients. The codes draw on these principles:
Autonomy - Respect for the individual self-determination
Beneficence - Doing the greatest good possible
Non-maleficence - Minimizing or preventing
harm
Justice- Fairness and equal access to care.
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Bioethics has developed responsibilities based
on autonomy:
Respect for person - The basis of client rights
Telling the truth and giving all the facts -
Disclosure
Confidentiality - Maintaining client privacy
Fidelity - Doing the job" and "being there" for theclient.
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Beneficence
is acting in the best interest of clients.
Non-maleficence
is minimizing harm. Justice is treating individuals
fairly.
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Autonomy and Suicide
This principle impacts the clinical response to all
suicidal individuals.
It calls for respect, dignity, and choice. The last oftentakes precedence.
Respect for personal rights: This duty sanctifies choice.
Suicide is the outcome of psychological debilitation.
Extending autonomy to those so afflicted facilitatessuicide. Respect for the individual is better served by
recognizing their vulnerability.
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Telling the truth:Clients who are at risk deservecandor as to their exposure and means ofintervention. Clinicians with strong views aboutsuicide should disclose them or refer the client
elsewhere. Confidentiality: This presents many dilemmas.
Suicidality and secrecy are a fatal combination. Insome states clinicians may breach confidentiality
if the client is a danger to themselves or others.Therapists must disclose if the client is a threat toothers. Disclosure of suicidality not mandated.
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Fidelity: Clinicians are to be faithful to clients.
The risk of suicide must be taken seriously and
be acknowledged as the primary problem.
Fidelity also demands that clinicians updatetheir views and skills. Outmoded views of
suicide put clients at risk.
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Beneficence and Suicide
Clinicians must be proactive in working for the
client's well-being.
Beneficence should not be sacrificed to autonomyif the client is suicidal.
Beneficence is caring not just treatment.
Every attempt at intervention is warranted.
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Non-maleficence and Suicide
Clinicians must strive to protect clients from harm.
Non-maleficence calls for whatever it takes to
assure the client's life.
Justice and Suicide
Clinicians must treat all consistently. Fairnesscannot be assumed.
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Concluding Comments:
Clinicians often equate what's legal with
what's ethical. In most cases, the law sets only
minimum standards of conduct. Ethics
demands more. This is especially true in
regard to suicidal individuals.
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ur group s strong y aga nst su c e. rue t s t at
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ur group s strong y aga nst su c e. rue t s t atevery patient has the right to self-determination as
stated in the principle of autonomy and it is likely to
be the very principle being violated if you try to save
suicide victims. However, we have the principle of
beneficence and non-malfeasance supporting our
interventions. Moreover, there are also points to
consider when practicing the principle of autonomyand these are: a) mental capacity, b) options, and c)
independence. Perhaps independence is practiced but
mental capacity and options are in question. This
usually happens when a person is very vulnerable or
in a state of depression which hinders the mind to
look at alternatives and see only one way- to commit
suicide.
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"No. Choice implies that a suicidal
person can reasonably look at
alternatives and select among them.
If they could rationally choose, it
would not be suicide. Suicidehappens when all other alternatives
are exhausted -- when no otherchoices are seen."
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