Download Principle of Double Effect

BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLES
Beauchamp and Childress 2001;Gillon 1986
• Bioethical Principles
• standard approach to biomedical ethics
• endorsed by most moral theories
• provide a framework that may facilitate resolution of
ethical problems
• four key principles: autonomy (respect for autonomy),
non-maleficence, beneficence, justice
• each principle needs to be weighed and balanced in
determining an optimal course of action
BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLES
Beauchamp and Childress 2001;Gillon 1986
• Autonomy – principle of self-rule
• right to participate in and decide on a course of
action; freedom to act independently
• competent adult’s informed decision to refuse (even
life-saving) treatment supercedes offer of treatment
medical paternalism - acting without consent or
overriding a person’s wishes, wants, or actions,
in order to benefit the patient or prevent harm
strong paternalism, the overriding a competent patent’s
wishes
weak paternalism, acting for the benefit of an
incompetent patient
BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLES
Beauchamp and Childress 2001;Gillon 1986
• Non-maleficence - principle of avoiding
harm to the patient
• justification for ‘acts and omissions’ distinction
in law (withholding/withdrawing treatment that
is not benefiting patient)
BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLES
Beauchamp and Childress 2001;Gillon 1986
• Beneficence – principle of doing what is
best for the patient
• promotion of patient’s best interests
• prevent or remove harm
• encompasses sanctity of life principle
• when in conflict, non-maleficence supersedes
the principle of beneficence.
BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLES
Beauchamp and Childress 2001;Gillon 1986
• Justice - principle based on fairness, equity
and equality
• treat similar cases in similar ways
• distribute health care resources (goods and
service) fairly
• proper distribution of benefits and burdens