Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2014; vol 5 issue 3 

 

 
Editorial 
 
This is the last of the 2014 issue of the Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics and we look forward to newer 

and stronger issues in 2015 with a theme based approach bringing aspects and concerns on Bioethics to 

the fore front. As the name suggests Bioethics deals with the ethical standards and practices relating to all 

living being –humans, flora and fauna. Research articles from different organizations, experts and 

institutions are welcomed for peer review and selection. The current issue presents the following articles: 

 

Zoheb Rafique and Urooj Bhatti discuss the Practice of Informed Consent, Confidentiality and Privacy by 

Physicians at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital . The paper assesses the practice of medical ethics by 

the physicians at a public sector hospital in Sindh  through a survey of four medical units of tertiary care 

hospital at Jamshoro . The majority of patients reported that informed consent was taken from them and 

that privacy and confidentiality maintained during their treatment. However, many patients stated that they 

were not properly informed about the laboratory findings, role of proposed drugs and also side effects of 

drugs. The authors recommend awareness workshops to be conducted to update and improve the 

knowledge of medical ethics among physicians 

Alma Linkeviciute, et al discusses the challenges of setting up Ethical Oncofertility Practice in Developing 

Countries. The authors bring up issues related to fertility preservation for cancer patients which offers 

possible solution but also raises ethical questions. The authors provide a summary of ethical principles 

with options and restrictions to access fertility preservation in developing countries. Their proposed model 

is patient centered and focuses on patient values, needs and wishes. They also provide a list of 

organizations working in oncofertility field.  

Norman K. Swazo discusses the case of Jahi McMath and the Ethics of the Brain Death Standard. The 

author questions the definition of brain dead in the classical sense versus the current evidence of 

recovered brain function. The author focuses on the case of 13-year old Jahi McMath, certified dead on 

the basis of neurological criteria but maintained in mechanical ventilation and care at the insistence of the 

parents who claim she is alive.  In this brief discussion, the medical and legal issues are reviewed.   

Avinash De Sousa et al provide an insight on psychosocial and ethical dilemmas arising when doctors are 

on strikes. This paper is a commentary on whether doctors have the right to strike work or not while 

keeping in mind, psychosocial and ethical implications of the same.  

Tahera Ahmed discusses the role of the recently formed Midwifery cadre in ensuring Safe Motherhood 

and decreasing maternal deaths. She provides the background and an overview of the Midwifery 

Strategic Directions for the policy, education, research and deployment for the midwifery profession. She 

stresses on the need for such a dedicated cadre to bring about a rapid decrease in maternal deaths and 



Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2014; vol 5 issue 3 

 

morbidities in Bangladesh where currently 5000 women die every year due to complications of pregnancy, 

most of which are preventable. 

Shamima Parvin Lasker General Secretary, Bangladesh Bioethics Society; provides an update on recent 

activities of BBS. She highlights important events such as the establishment of an Academic Scholarly 

Exchange and Collaborative Agreement with American University of Sovereign Nation (AUSN), Arizona, 

USA and BBS.   AUSN is offering a one year Master of Bioethics and Global Public Health hybrid online 

and onsite master’s degree program with free tuition fees.  Collaboration has also been established  with 

College of Medicine, National Taiwan University & Hospital for Research and Professional Training 

Workshop for Cancer Treatment, Hospice/Palliative Care and Bioethics in Southeast Asian Countries.  

BBS is organizing an Intensive Training Workshop on Bioethics and Research in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2-4 

January 2015 in collaboration with Eubios Ethics Institute and AUSN. Professor Darryl Macer, Director of 

the Institute of Indigenous Peoples and Global Studies, and Dean, Masters Program in Bioethics and 

Global Public Health (MBGPH), AUSN, USA will conduct the Training. Two members attended the 15th 

Asian Bioethics Conference, November 2014 in Japan. They contributed with their scholarly research 

papers in the conference and enhance the prestige of BBS.  

Please continue to bring up issues and concerns in the realm of Bioethics which will contribute to the 

improvement of the quality of life on our planet.  

Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year to all our readers and authors! 

 

Tahera Ahmed 

Chief, Sexual and Reproductive Health, UNFPA, 

Faculty, North South University, 

And  

Editor, Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics