Bioethics is a rather specific field of ethical science which concerns itself with establishing universal moral principles and values that the development of biotechnologies and medicine should adhere to. As the existing tools and knowledge in biology, genetics, healthcare, and other related areas progress, it becomes incredibly important to review each aspect of existing and emerging ethical issues in an objective light. Thus, understanding the principles of bioethics and how to apply them to various parts of research and study is crucial for the healthcare field.
The principle of autonomy refers to the equality of the health professional and the patient, stating that they both should have control over decisions made during research or treatment. For example, in research, adhering to this principle would mean that the researcher obtains informed consent from the patient. They would need to explain to the patient all aspects of the study and lead them through the entire process of it before the patient can give their consent to participate. Another example is that if the patient decides to drop out of the study and asks the researcher to withdraw all data related to them, their decision must be respected and followed through on. Finally, the third example outlines that the researcher should never try to dictate to the patient on what decisions to make, as well as to influence them to accept or refuse specific offers.
Beneficence principle in bioethics emphasizes that a healthcare worker’s actions should always strive to benefit the patient. The first example of that is that a medical/biology student should constantly continue their education, improving and growing their knowledge and skills in order to provide the best outcomes for patients. Another example is that the research they conduct must be aimed towards learning about and/or resolving issues that people meet with their health, and should provide new theories to consider and explore. Thirdly, if, during a study, a group of patients is administered a placebo, this fact should never be revealed to them until at least the end of the research, as it would diminish healing benefits and violate the results.
The next bioethical principle is non-maleficence which means that a healthcare worker should not bring any harm to the patients unless it is ultimately necessary for their healing. There are many aspects to that claim, as the definition of harm can be ambiguous in different situations. However, this principle states that is should never be a healthcare professional’s intention to purposely violate patients’ well-being. The first example of that is that during a study, the researcher must never provide patients’ data to third parties unless it is necessary and agreed upon with the patients. Secondly, the researcher should always consider the effects the study they wish to conduct would have on the patients and ensure that it will not harm them in any way. Event unintentional, a violation of anyone’s health is still a threat, and the researcher must avoid that in their studies. Finally, when obtaining consent to participate in a study, the researcher must never alter or conceal vital information from the patient. They should provide participants with an honest review of the research, its potential consequences, adverse effects, and possible dangers.
The last principle of bioethics is justice, and it refers to the claim that every human being should have equal rights when obtaining medical help, and must receive the full scope of it. In research, an example of that principle can be that the researcher should never discriminate between races, genders, sexualities, or other characteristics when considering participants for their study. This is applicable unless the specifics of the research require only certain groups of population to be studied. A second example could be that the researcher must always strive to prioritize patients’ health when deciding on research topic, and not let financial or scientific interest overshadow it. Thirdly, when conducting a study, the researcher should take strong measures to protect patients’ data and their identities, and refrain from continuing with their research if that information is in any way compromised.