Transcript Slide 1

Autonomy and Beneficence
 Right
to make one’s own choices
 Respect for persons- not to
interfere with choice of another,
though persuasion permitted.
 Obligation to treat persons as
capable of choice unless good
evidence against.
 Free
action: (1) Voluntary without
coercion; (2) Intentional- informed
and understand consequences.
 Authentic choice- consistent with
one’s beliefs, values and life plan.
 Effective deliberation- aware of
alternatives and consequences.
 Agent
intends to influence other
person by presenting a severe
threat which must be (a) credible
and (b) irresistible.
Intentional and successful influence
of a person by noncoercive altering
of (a) choices available to the
person or (b) perception of these
choices.
 One
ought to do or promote
good.
 Non-malficience- not to inflict
harm or evil.
Must the help be active
or passive?
How does one know what is the
good of the other?
 What
is the level of good intended
or level of harm risked or
permitted?
 What is the probability of
the good or harm?
What are the actual causal
influences?
 Context: Applied
only if not
against individual autonomy
and dignity.
 There must be proportionate
good to permit risk of harmful.
 Are there alternatives?
 A is
acting paternalistically toward S
in and only if A’s behavior indicates
that (1) The action benefits S; (2) The
action involves violating a moral rule
with regard to S; (3) The action does
not have S’s present or forth-coming
consent; and (4) S is competent to give
consent.



Protect subject’s
status as a human
being (dignity rights)
Promote individual
autonomy
Prevent fraud and
duress
Goals of Informed
Consent
Professional Obligation


Must be competent to
consent. -able to rationally
deliberate; to have
adequate understanding
and to give reasonable
assessment of
consequences.
Must be free from coercion
or manipulation.
Must be autonomous


Must have adequate and
relevant informationFour standards: (1) Patient
preference; (2)
Professional custom; (3)
Prudent (reasonable)
person; and (4) Subjective
substantial rule.
Effects on life, health, lifestyle, values,
family, religious beliefs, friends and society.


Standard medical
practicePrimary exceptions:
(1) Therapeutic
privilege-withhold
information to protect
the health of the
patient.- watch for
paternalism
Medical Practice


(2) Emergency
conditions- unable to
consent, life is in
danger and immediate
treatment is needed.
Major questioninformed consent ever
be over-ridden?
Ethical Practice