This paper uses a bioethical lens to explore the cultural and religious factors influencing end-of-life decision-making in Filipino families. For Filipinos, family-centered values, largely influenced by indigenous beliefs and Catholicism, have a big influence on how people view death and the treatment of terminally ill patients. To successfully navigate these issues, the study highlights the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach incorporating bioethics, cultural anthropology, religious studies, and healthcare practice. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in this, as they must understand and respect these cultural and religious factors when providing care. According to studies, family decisions regarding medical interventions, palliative care, and life-sustaining treatments are influenced by fundamental religious doctrines, such as the sanctity of life and beliefs in the afterlife. Also, cultural values such as pakikisama (social harmony) and utang na loob (debt of gratitude) present moral conundrums for families and healthcare professionals in decision-making. This research emphasizes the conflict between medical ethics, religious teachings, and cultural norms through case studies and document analysis to develop a bioethical framework in the Philippines that respects patients’ diversity of religion and culture while upholding their autonomy and dignity. An interdisciplinary approach, therefore, is necessary to address end-of-life concerns in Filipino families due to the complex interactions between religious beliefs, cultural values, and bioethical principles. This approach is necessary to provide Filipino patients and their families compassionate, culturally sensitive care that respects their needs and beliefs.

Authors:
Ivan Efreaim Gozum, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Ivan Efreaim A. Gozum is an instructor of Theology and Ethics from the University of Santo Thomas.His research interests include family studies, philosophy of religion, medieval philosophy, Gabriel Marcel, Thomas Aquinas, and Karol Wojtyla.

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