Bioethics Bits
“Bioethics Bits” offers a concise and practical guide to navigating the complex ethical dilemmas encountered in healthcare. Using the IDEA framework—a four-step tool for ethical decision-making—we provide a clear process for identifying facts, determining dilemmas, exploring options, and acting on a decision. This resource is designed to empower healthcare professionals, patients, and families with the knowledge needed to make sound, justifiable choices in challenging situations.
CASE STUDY
Case 22 : MINOR’S PROXY
Case Study 22 : MINOR’S PROXY Challenges Three weeks before admission, a one-year-old girl experienced abdominal pain with vomiting, loose bowel movements (LBM), jaundice, and
Case 21 : WITHHOLDING LIFE SUPPORT
Case Study 21 : WITHHOLDING LIFE SUPPORT Challenges Patient is a 56 y/o female admitted because of difficulty of breathing. She was diagnosed with infiltrating
Case 20 : BENEFICENCE AND NON-MALEFICENCE
Case Study 20 : BENEFICENCE AND NON-MALEFICENCE Challenges A 62-year old female is admitted for the sixth time in the hospital because of difficulty in
Case 19 : BURDEN
Case Study 19 : BURDEN Challenges The family of a 23-year old female patient, attached to a respirator for the past three months and in
Case 18 : CHAPLAINCY AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
Case Study 18 : CHAPLAINCY AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS Challenges Due to the demands of her assignments in the department, complicated by some family problems,
Case 17 : CHAPLAINCY AND PATIENTS
Case Study 17 : CHAPLAINCY AND PATIENTS Challenges A 34-year-old male cigarette vendor is admitted with chief complaint of abdominal pain. Preliminary examination reveals a
Ethical Decision-Making Tool
The Makati Medical Center Bioethics Educational Committee has adopted an Ethical Decision-Making Framework to assist healthcare professionals, patients, families, and institutions in navigating situations where values, principles, and responsibilities may be in conflict. Ethical challenges in clinical practice often involve balancing patient autonomy, medical best practices, cultural and spiritual beliefs, institutional policies, and societal considerations. This framework, summarized by the acronym “IDEA” (Identify, Determine, Explore, Act), provides a clear and systematic approach for addressing such dilemmas. By encouraging the collection of all relevant facts, recognizing the ethical principles at stake, exploring a range of options, and acting on well-justified decisions, the tool helps ensure that decision-making is both morally sound and practically effective. It is designed not only as a guide for individual cases but also as an educational resource to strengthen ethical awareness and promote collaborative discussions across healthcare teams.
