BIOLOGY | YR 10 ADVANCE
CHAPTER 12 Bioethics
Year 11
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Bioethics
Lesson overview
Study Design
• analyse and evaluate bioethical issues using relevant approaches to bioethics and ethical
concepts, including the influence of social, economic, legal and political factors relevant
to the selected issue
Subtopics:
• The application of ethical understanding in the context of VCE Biology involves the
demonstration and application of approaches to bioethics and ethical concepts
Approaches to Bioethics
As seen in the study design:
There are three major approaches to resolving ethical issues that support students to identify bioethical
issues, explore these bioethical issues in context, consider different perspectives on bioethical issues, reflect
on courses of action, and choose a position or course of action on the basis of reasoning and reflection.
Depending on the bioethical issue being explored, one or more of the following approaches could be applied
and/or considered:
Consequences-based approach places central importance on the consideration of the consequences of an
action (the ends), with the aim to achieve maximisation of positive outcomes and minimisation of negative
effects.
Duty- and/or rule-based approach is concerned with how people act (the means) and places central
importance on the idea that people have a duty to act in a particular way, and/or that certain ethical rules
must be followed, regardless of the consequences that may be produced.
Virtues-based approach is person- rather than action-based. Consideration is given to the virtue or moral
character of the person carrying out the action, providing guidance about the characteristics and behaviours
a good person would seek to achieve to then be able to act in the right way.
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Ethical Concepts
Consideration of ethical concepts supports students in exploring bioethical issues. The concepts may be
useful as standalone ways of exploring a bioethical issue under consideration or be used in conjunction with
a particular ethical approach.
Ethical concepts are general in nature and commonly used to inform any Codes of Ethics and ethical
guidelines that apply when undertaking research involving human and non-human participants. They can
also be used when identifying a bioethical issue and when deciding the extent to which the outcome of a
particular course of action (the effect) or the action itself (the cause) is ethically acceptable.
While there are many ethical concepts that can support the investigation of bioethical issues, one or more
of the following principles should be applied:
• Integrity: the commitment to searching for knowledge and understanding and the honest reporting
of all sources of information and communication of results, whether favourable or unfavourable, in
ways that permit scrutiny and contribute to public knowledge and understanding.
• Justice: the moral obligation to ensure that there is fair consideration of competing claims; that
there is no unfair burden on a particular group from an action; and that there is fair distribution and
access to the benefits of an action.
• Beneficence: the commitment to maximising benefits and minimising the risks and harms involved
in taking a particular position or course of action.
• Non-maleficence: involves avoiding the causations of harm. However, as positions or courses of
actions in scientific research may involve some degree of harm, the concept of non-maleficence
implies that the harm resulting from any position or course of action should not be disproportionate
to the benefits from any position or course of action.
• Respect: involves consideration of the extent to which living things have an intrinsic value and/or
instrumental value; giving due regard to the welfare, liberty and autonomy, beliefs, perceptions,
customs and cultural heritage of both the individual and the collective; consideration of the capacity
of living things to make their own decisions; and when living things have diminished capacity to
make their own decisions ensuring that they are empowered where possible and protected as
necessary.
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Application
Understanding the principals and approaches to Bioethics is important however, you will be assessed
more on the application of these principals.
Below are some possible applications that students may encounter.
Discuss the possible approaches and principals that apply. Remember, the ability to evaluate BOTH the
pros and cons is important.
1. CRISPR Cas9
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2. Gene Editing Technology
3. Cloning
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4. Stem Cell Treatment
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