**2. Fundamentals of bioethics**

The word ethics is derived from the Greek word "ethos" which means customs and habits. Medical ethics has been defined as the principles or norms that regulate the conduct of the relationships between medical practitioners and other groups with whom they come in contact in the course of their practice (COMMAT, 1997).. These groups include professional colleagues, other health professionals, the patient, the government and other custodians of healthcare.

Ethical codes are set of principles or rough guides to practice, usually developed following serious breach of ethical standards (Uzodike, 1998). For example, the Nuremberg code of 1947 and Helsinki Declaration of 1964 are guidelines developed on human research, following inhuman experimentation conducted on human subjects (CIOMS, 1993). The Hippocratic Oath of 4th century B.C. in its modified form, sworn to by newly qualified medical doctors, constitutes a component of the ethical codes of most countries of the world.

Bioethics in a narrow sense is a subdivision of ethics that regulates the relationship between the healthcare provider and the beneficiary of healthcare. In a broader sense however, it is regarded as a multidisciplinary filed of inquiry, which addresses ethical issues in clinical practice and healthcare, biomedical research involving humans and animals, health policy and the environment (Cook et al, 2003; Adinma and Adinma, 2009). Bioethics has its roots from the value system developed by ancient Philosophers – Socrates, Aristotle and Plato. The term bioethics was coined by van Rensselaer Potter, an American biochemist at the University of Wisconsin in the 1960's. Although the first institutional use of the word was in 1971 by Kennedy, Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University – Washington DC (Cook et al, 2003). Modern Bioethics is believed to have evolved in the 1960's as a response to various challenges and controversies encumbering health technological development at the time (Callahan, 1997; Rothmans, 1991; Jonsen, 1998). Although Warren Reich opined that the evolution of bioethics in the western countries was a reaction to the tendency of religions to approach developments in medicine through their parochial theological doctrines and perspective.

and thus enable better team and institutional performance in caring for patients. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada had since the late 1990 insisted that the teaching of bioethics be made a requirement for accreditation of any residency training programme. In furtherance to this, Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynaecology stated the objectives that residents must demonstrate an understanding of basic ethical concepts and their application to the issues and decisions based in the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of

This chapter defines bioethics together with a brief account of its historical origin particularly in relation to the development of principles of modern bioethics. It also describes the fundamentals of bioethics – notably bioethical orientation, principles and analytical levels. It further highlights research ethics and reviews key obstetrics issues

The word ethics is derived from the Greek word "ethos" which means customs and habits. Medical ethics has been defined as the principles or norms that regulate the conduct of the relationships between medical practitioners and other groups with whom they come in contact in the course of their practice (COMMAT, 1997).. These groups include professional colleagues, other health professionals, the patient, the government and other custodians of

Ethical codes are set of principles or rough guides to practice, usually developed following serious breach of ethical standards (Uzodike, 1998). For example, the Nuremberg code of 1947 and Helsinki Declaration of 1964 are guidelines developed on human research, following inhuman experimentation conducted on human subjects (CIOMS, 1993). The Hippocratic Oath of 4th century B.C. in its modified form, sworn to by newly qualified medical doctors, constitutes a component of the ethical codes of most

Bioethics in a narrow sense is a subdivision of ethics that regulates the relationship between the healthcare provider and the beneficiary of healthcare. In a broader sense however, it is regarded as a multidisciplinary filed of inquiry, which addresses ethical issues in clinical practice and healthcare, biomedical research involving humans and animals, health policy and the environment (Cook et al, 2003; Adinma and Adinma, 2009). Bioethics has its roots from the value system developed by ancient Philosophers – Socrates, Aristotle and Plato. The term bioethics was coined by van Rensselaer Potter, an American biochemist at the University of Wisconsin in the 1960's. Although the first institutional use of the word was in 1971 by Kennedy, Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University – Washington DC (Cook et al, 2003). Modern Bioethics is believed to have evolved in the 1960's as a response to various challenges and controversies encumbering health technological development at the time (Callahan, 1997; Rothmans, 1991; Jonsen, 1998). Although Warren Reich opined that the evolution of bioethics in the western countries was a reaction to the tendency of religions to approach developments in medicine through their parochial theological doctrines and

Canada, 1997).

healthcare.

perspective.

countries of the world.

requiring bio-ethical consideration.

**2. Fundamentals of bioethics** 
