BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLES Beauchamp and Childress 2001;Gillon 1986

1
BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLESBeauchamp and Childress
2001Gillon 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

2
BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLESBeauchamp and Childress
2001Gillon 1986

• Autonomy principle of self-rule
• right to participate in and decide on a course of
  action freedom to act independently
• competent adults informed decision to refuse
  (even life-saving) treatment supercedes offer of
  treatment medical paternalism - acting without
  consent or overriding a persons wishes, wants,
  or actions, in order to benefit the patient or
  prevent harm
• strong paternalism, the overriding a competent
  patents wishes
• weak paternalism, acting for the benefit of an
  incompetent patient

3
BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLESBeauchamp and Childress
2001Gillon 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)

4
BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLESBeauchamp and Childress
2001Gillon 1986

• Beneficence principle of doing what is best for
  the patient
• promotion of patients best interests
• prevent or remove harm
• encompasses sanctity of life principle
• when in conflict, non-maleficence supersedes the
  principle of beneficence.

5
BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLESBeauchamp and Childress
2001Gillon 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