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 29 :ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVE
Case Study 29 : ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVE Challenges A 60-year old widow, G8P8, was admitted because of abdominal pain. The abdomen was partially distended, tender
Case 28 : UNAVAILABLE DOCTORS
Case Study 28 : UNAVAILABLE DOCTORS Challenges Patient had profuse vaginal bleeding after spontaneous vaginal delivery in a maternity clinic and arrived at the Emergency Department hypotensive
Case 26 : EXTREMELY PREMATURE INFANTS
Case Study 26 : EXTREMELY PREMATURE INFANTS Challenges A baby boy was born pre-term at 24 weeks age of gestation by last menstrual period, to
Case 25 : OPERATION COMPLICATIONS
Case Study 25 : OPERATION COMPLICATIONS Challenges A 58-year-old female developed episodes of mild, crampy abdominal pain over 3 months. Physicians diagnosed her with malignant
Case 24 : HOSPICE CARE
Case Study 24 : HOSPICE CARE Challenges An 85-year-old married female was admitted because of body weakness, poor food intake and continuous severe pains in
Case 23 : INCOMPETENT ADULT’S PROXY
Case Study 23 : INCOMPETENT ADULT’S PROXY Challenges A 72 year old female was admitted due to fever that began four days prior to admission.
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.
