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Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2010; 1(2):24-30 
 

BIOETHICS: AWAKENING AND CHANGING OF HUMAN LIFE  

Ferdousshi Begum, PhD 

Professor of Philosophy, Jagannath University,Dhaka 

 

Ethics is primarily a part of the quest for truth and motive for standing . It is the desire for knowledge. In 

this respect it is more akin to philosophical  subjects than the  natural sciences where the practical 

applications are many and attractive.Ethics  is one of the important branches of Philosophy which started 

from the ancient time. Ethics started through the philosophy of Sophists in ancient Greece.This culture later 

expanded  through continuous  process. The ethical culture has been expanded from Socrates, Plato,  

Aristotle till today. Ethics can be defined as a science that appreciates human conduct in the light of moral 

ideal. The English  word  ‘Ethics’is derived from the Greek word ‘ethica’ meaning matters pertaining to 

‘ethos’ or character, that is,  remarkable manners, customs and habits of men.1 There are three trend or 

dimension through the attentive observation of ethical history: such as traditional ethics, meta-ethics and 

practical-ethics. Traditional ethics deals with justice – injustice, good-bad, right-wrong of human conduct 

in the light of the moral ideal.2 

Meta-ethics is mainly concerned with conceptual and linguistic analysis with moral language which is used 

in theoretical ethics. On the other hand practical ethics  evaluate the social and moral problems  of both 

individual and society regarding the logical uses and implementation  of moral standard.3 Bio-ethics is a 

part of practical ethics. Bio-ethics is  the study of moral problems in the area of life sciences and health care 

and insofar these problems are related with the study of social, legal and economic problem.Now a days  

there arises  some bio-ethical problems,without relating health care and treatment. But these problems are 

co-related to life. The main aims and objects of treatment  are to  cure and strengthening of  human being 

.Many treatments are related to lives like animal in modern age.  But it is only possible for the treatment of 

the living being and nothing else. So it is impossible to make differences between bio-ethics and medical 

science. Bio-ethics is  the systematic study of  moral problems of human conduct in the society.  

      

       Bio-ethics is the philosophical study of the ethical controversies brought  

      about by advances in biology and medicine.Bioethicists are concerned with 

       the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, 

       biotechnology,medicine,politics,law,philosophy and theology.4  

 Bio-ethics is such type of branches of practical ethics  that deals with the study of human conduct and 

inner-relation with each other in the light of moral values and principles. Few days ago,  bio-ethics was 

mainly concerned with medical ethics. But now a days it is related to agricultural and environmental ethics 

too. From this point of view  it has been discussed - the ethical problem of health care or medical ethics 

changing the human live,which should be acceptable and beneficiary to the whole world. 

 



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Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2010; 1(2):24-30 
 

 The term Bioethics (Greek bios, life; ethos, behavior)was coined in 1927 by Fritz Jahr, who “anticipated 

many of the argument and discussions now current in biological research involving animals”. In an article 

about the “bioethical imperative,” a he called it, regarding the scientific use of animals and plants, In 1970, 

the American biochemist Van Rensselaer Potter also used the term with a broader meaning including 

solidarity towards the biosphere, thus generating  a “global ethics,” a discipline representing a link between 

biology, ecology, medicine and human values in order to attain the survival of both human beings and other 

animal species.5 

Medical Ethics or Bioethics is study of moral issues in the fields of medical treatment and research. The 

term is also sometimes used more generally to describe ethical issues in the  life science and the 

distribution of scarce medical resources. The professional fields that deal with  ethical issues in medicine, 

nursing, law, sociology, philosophy and theology though today medical ethics is also recognized as its own 

discipline.6 Medical ethics traces it root to several early codes of ethics such  as the ancient Greek 

Hippocratic Oath, which required physician above all to “do no harm.”   

Firstly ,Bioethics was learned by the side of the Epistemology, Metaphysics and Axiology as the media of 

learning bio-medicine. Ultimately with the gradual development of medical science and medicine-science 

bio-ethics reveals as the fundamental subjects. The objects of bio-ethics and medical ethics are so cordially 

related with one another that it  is difficult to make a great differences between these two. According to 

Pitersinger bio-ethics is the lesson of moral problem regarding sciences.  But there are some bio-centric 

problem which are not related to health care and medical treatment. The main aim of  treatment is to care 

and strengthen the human body with long life. Recently many living beings including animals are treated. 

But there is no scope of  treatment for the non-living. So there is no scope to make a difference between 

bio-ethics and medical-ethics. 

For a long time  medical-ethics was the main object of  bio-ethics. But there has been great changes in the 

educational contents  of bio-ethics in last three or four decades and also expanded and extended the scope 

of it.7 Very recently environmental ethics and genetic engineering and applied ethics has been included in 

bioethics and it has been extended and expanded  with the scope of new subjects. 

 There arises the question of ethics in the agricultural field after the extension agricultural bio-ethics and 

food- biology. There  arises some ethical problems due to the extension of bio-technology in agriculture 

sector. Food technology has been developed regarding the different  technique of food processing ; 

different machineries has been used for food processing  to make nutritious and quality foods . The time 

has come  to observe deeply  whether these foods are helpful for health or indulgence for human  body. The 

question has also arisen to explain newly about   the usefulness of these food. The method of hi-breeding is 

being examined ,which is being used for  production of vegetables, corns, fishes and animals. For the 

double or triple  production  various artificial and bio-chemical manure has been used. As a result it has 

been dangerous for maintaining  the human and animal health .The buyers and cultivators has been faced  

with the various moral question regarding the mechanical process of production,such as :-  



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Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2010; 1(2):24-30 
 

1. whether the productive corn or food  is suitable for the health care of man and animal.  

2. whether it is capable for the development of health 

3. whether the environment is free from danger 

4. whether the role of these technologies to eradicate poverty is  satisfactory  

5. whether it will only help the rich o the poor will be also be benefited  

6. whether it is  humane and ethical  regarding the animal that has been used  as food or for the experiment 

in research centre,  and if it is regarded as ethical, is there any reason for ethical purpose. 

Firstly agricultural and food technology  has to face various ethical question,  but it has been agreed 

regarding the usefulness of these. Considering its necessity, it has been accepted. But regarding 

environmental  balance, economic advancement, social justice and animal rights it has given birth to a 

moral debate and public opinion has been formed  against it.    

Physician and bio-scientists tried to cure various health problem with medicine. Most modern equipment is 

very much helpful for correct diagnosis. Most modern technological treatment regarding healthcare is very 

helpful for right measurement of health related area. Invention of new medicine for prevention of disease 

also depend on technology.  For acute diagnosis to the patient, physician has to depend on pathology. And 

pathological research  also depend on technology. But there arises some health related problems due to uses 

of most modern equipment in medical science. But though these problems are included in medical science 

,there is a clue of ethical solving for these problems. Such problems deal with duty, good or bad – which 

are the object of  ethics; and bio-ethics is also related to ethics.         

Bio-ethics make decision and judges moral standard for  every issues regarding healthcare. Medical science 

and biological-science discuss about the difference aspects of human body; sometime there arises some 

problems which are responsible for moral conflicts. Regarding health, various issues are concerned with 

duty. So to overcome  the hard problem it is very much important to explain values. So to get rid of 

difficult or critical problems of medical sciences  it is the duty of bio-ethics  to explain  and to make a 

decision  morally i.e. what is good or bad.  

Bio-medical ethics  has been created  due to ethical problem and crisis  of human medical science. Modern 

and new  technology of medical science ensure for the good  human-health on the other hand there arises 

some problems beyond medical science. For example the most modern invented medicine is good to cure 

epidemic diseases; on the other hand  there arises a question  whether  it is moral or immoral  for inventing 

this medicine -  when  men are used  as an experimental case. Thus bio-ethics as a part of practical science  

has been turned into an important subject . 

Medical science and bio-logical science is descriptive science of fact; ethics is a evaluative science. There 

are various aspects of medical science. Such as there should be:   

1.   an honest relation between  physician and patient 

2.   whether there should be implementation of any technical stress upon patient  for the 

      implementation  of different new technology.  



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Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2010; 1(2):24-30 
 

3.   whether it is ethical  to use the patient as a  research subject. 

 Varieties  of medical programs mainly with experimental case of patient has been faced with ethical 

question. There arises a conflict  in the medical area regarding the responsibility  and duty of physician. For 

example it may be mentioned about euthanasia . The term euthanasia may be defined  to accept the death 

for  relieving  the severe  pain. Euthanasia indeed is a kind of mercy killing  or plenty of death. The 

question now arises whether we should accept mercy killing, the killing of disable child and incurable old 

people. Regarding these matter, there arises such type of conflict  which can be accomplished by ethical 

knowledge. So bio-ethics deals with  the accomplishment of different problem of medical science and  

biological-science. With the welfare of the patient there arises responsibility about the qualitative stage  of 

life. Health care must be related to moral consciousness ; so that , the notion of  ‘life’ and ‘death’ can be 

defined and analyzed to a new era. Medical science has been rapidly developed and  changed at the 

beginning of 1970. Because from this time the knowledge of different types of medicines such as antibiotic 

medicine, medicine of birth control, mental health and life saving  drugs and technology (i.e., machinery of 

artificial breathing, dialysis) replacement of kidney ,hart, cornia, fertility process i.e.  test-tube-baby 

,surrogative mother, genetic engineering i.e. cloning, human jenome  has been developed rapidly.8 

Except medical science, newly invented technology of biology added a new trend to the field of man’s will, 

linking, freedom and selection. So the traditional  value has become weak to some extent. The new 

technology and use of it , has made a conflict to the old value. On the other hand the field of social justice 

has been extended. Women freedom is being observed due to the advantage of birth control technology. 

Thus different technology of medical science and biological science related to medical science has already 

improved our daily life; on the other hand created a new conflict. Though there arises some social problems 

in medical  science and there arises a conflict  in the field of fact and value – it would be solved in the light 

of ethics. 

 The commonly accepted principles of health care ethics include: 

1. the principle of respect for autonomy  

 2. the principle of nonmaleficence 

 3. the principle of beneficence 

 4. the principle of  justice 

 

Respect for autonomy  

In health care decision respect for the autonomy of the patient is a very important factor. German 

Philosopher Emanuel Kant and British philosopher Stuart Mill highlighted the individual freedom. They 

have joined the individual dignity with the individual freedom.  As the human posses the right to self-

control, she/he has power of possessing the same right .So regarding the treatment of a patient we should 

consider the willingness and unwillingness of a patient. But in some stages such as the patient of  C. C.U or 

I.C.U 



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Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2010; 1(2):24-30 
 

is unable to follow the principle of autonomy.  In  such case when principle of autonomy 

become inactive , there required  some side principle – such as respect for the person and  informed 

consent. Respect for the person means to save the secrecy of the patient with dignity and sense of value.9  

 

Principle of nonmaleficence 

The principle of nonmaleficence  means that we should not intentionally create a needle harm or injury to 

the patient. It must occur either through acts of commission or omission. In  case of professional model of 

care, one may  be morally and legally blameworthy if one fails to meet the standards of due care. The legal 

criteria for determining negligence are as follows: 

    1. the professional must have a duty to the affected party 

    2. the professional must breach that duty 

    3. the affected party must experience a harm 

    4. the harm must be caused by the breach of duty. 

 This principle affirms the need for medical competence. It is clear that medical mistakes occur, however, 

this principle articulates a fundamental commitment on the part of health care professionals to protect their 

patients from harm.10 

  

 Principle of  Beneficence                      

This principle is mainly based on utilitarianism  of Jeremy Bentham and  John Stuart Mill.There are two 

aspects of this principle ,one is the duty of health care with welfare benefit to the patient as well as to take 

positive steps to prevent and to remove harm from the patient These duties are  applied both to individual 

patients and to the good of society as a whole. A physician has a duty to seek benefit of any or all of his/her 

patient.This duty becomes complex if two patients appeal for treatment at the same moment. In these case 

some criteria of urgency of need might be used. Or there should be some principle of first come first 

served, to decide who should be helpful at the moment.11  

 

Principle of  justice 

 Justice in health care is usually defined as a form of fairness, or as Aristotle once said, "giving to each that 

which is his due." This implies the fair distribution of goods in society and requires that we look at the role 

of entitlement.  

It is generally held that persons who are equals should qualify for equal treatment. This is borne out in the 

application of Medicare, which is available to all persons over the age of 65 years. This category of persons 

is equal with respect to this one factor, their age, but the criteria chosen says nothing about need or other 

noteworthy factors about the persons in this category. In fact, our society uses a variety of factors as a 

criteria for distributive justice, including the following: 

 



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Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2010; 1(2):24-30 

1. to each person an equal share,  

2. to each person according to need, 

3. to each person according to effort, 

4. to each person according to contribution, 

5.  to each person according to  merit, 

6.  to each person according to  free-market exchanges.12 

At first the decision of professional was accepted for the health care and medical treatment.But at present 

the importance has been  given to the patient and to the freedom of patient .Such as the treatment of patient 

depends on  the approval  ,view and confession  of the patient and the doctors. 

Principles in current usages in the health care ethics seems to be of self-evident value. Before implementing 

the medical care plan, it is now commonly accepted that the patient must indicate a willingness in writing 

to accept the proposed treatment. The physician should develop a care plan designed to provide that is  

most beneficial to the patient. 

 In the history of recent period bio-ethics as a part of the practical ethics played an important role . Duty 

toward patient of the physician  is the central point of bio-ethics. There are two aspects of duty ,one is 

positive dealing with  direct  part, other is negative dealing with indirect part. Main general and principle 

responsibility of the physician to the patient - is to ensure the welfare of the patient ,to respect all the 

patient,  to restrain from deception with patient, to take proper care of the patient , to utilize health welfare 

incase of full cure, to give importance regarding mental and religious field, medicine should be applied  

skillfully with no harm etc. Adding to these they should gain skillful professional knowledge and expand 

the outlook through whole life learning. They should also confess and respect the others capability in case 

of  necessity. Society for bioethics and  humanities should  promote multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary 

professional development and inter professional. The study of bioethics enhances our knowledge of the 

world of possibilities and thereby broaden our vision and outlook. This in turn can lead to increased 

tolerance that is indispensable for democracy. Bioethics can greatly enlighten us on living moral issues on 

gender discrimination, reverse discrimination, affirmative action, fundamental human rights, political rights 

, civil disobedience, environment, equality, equity, fairness, justice, war and peace. So  by executing 

bioethics we will get a fine society ,at the same time a fine world to live in. 

    

References: 

1.John S. Mackenzie,A Manual Of Ethics,University Tutorial Press Ltd, London,1964.p.1  

2.William Lillie, An Introduction To Ethics, Allied Publihers Pvt.Ltd,New Delhi, 
     2003,p.3 
3. A .S.M.Abdul  Khalek, Praogic Nitibiddya, Annanya, Dhaka, p.introduction 
4. Bioethics – Wickipedia, the free encyclopedia,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioethics 
5.Terminology,Wickipedia, the free encyclopedia,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioethics 
6. Arther Caplan,Glenn Mc Gee, Bioethics For Beginner, http//www.acgme.org/outcome. 



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Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2010; 1(2):24-30 
 
7. A .S.M.Abdul  Khalek, Praogic Nitibiddya, Annanya, Dhaka, p.introduction 
 
 
8.Bioethical issue:  
 
Cloning: 
In the minds of many people the word cloning generally conjures up pictures of identical human beings, 
created without using normal reproductive processes. However cloning is more   
Surrogacy 
Surrogacy involves a woman (the surrogate mother) carrying a child for someone else, usually an infertile 
couple or sometimes a gay couple. Before she becomes pregnant the surrogate mother agrees to more  
Genetic Engineering 
Genetic engineering and genetic modification are terms used for genetic techniques which can be used to 
transfer genes from one organism to another move, delete, modify, or multiply genes within a more  
Euthanasia. 
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church Catholic teaching labels euthanasia as 'murder' while making a 
clear distinction between euthanasia and refusing 'overzealous' or 'extraordinary' medical more  
 
9. Souvenir Unesco Philosophy Day, Department of philosophy, Universityof Dhak 
      18. November.2004 p.13 
10.  ibid 
11  Thomas R. Mc Cormike, D Min,Principles of Bioethics.Faculty,Mdical Histor and 
      Ethics., 
12. ibid 


