PHI-413V Topic 3 DQ 1

The four principles of biomedical ethics, especially in the context of bioethics in the United States, have often been critiqued for raising the principle of autonomy to the highest place, such that it trumps all other principles or values. Based on your worldview, how do you rank the importance of each of the four principles in order to protect the health and safety of diverse populations?
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to the “Discussion Question Rubric” and “Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
This assignment aligns with AACN Core Competencies: 3.1

Solution

All four principles are necessary, especially in the context of bioethics in the United States. In my worldview, I will rank justice as the first principle. Justice needs to be a top priority due to the substantial differences that persist between different access levels, treatment quality, and outcomes throughout the United States. Everyone should obtain equal healthcare resources, particularly the people who belong to underserved communities and marginalized groups (Cassell, 2000).

Healthcare professionals base their actions on the patient-care principle known as beneficence (Cassell, 2000). According to my worldview, beneficence should follow justice principle. Beneficence in diverse populations requires healthcare providers to manage both avoiding harm along becoming active contributors to enhanced individual life quality. Healthcare provides preventive care services alongside community health promotion work while making sure healthcare interventions result in concrete well-being improvements for patients.

In my view, the principle of non-maleficence needs to follow beneficence in third place. The rule of non-maleficence exists after basic standards because healthcare professionals must first prevent doing harm to patients. The principle protects patients from encountering dangerous procedures that pose no medical benefit (James and Katz, 2024). Within diverse populations, the concept encompasses recognizing both discriminatory practices from the past and modern-day medical errors and cultural missteps.

The last principle in view needs to be autonomy. The principle of autonomy is informed choice. Autonomy is about self-rule that is free from both controlling interference by others and from limitations, such as inadequate understanding, that prevent meaningful choice (Varelius, 2006). When it comes to health and safety of diverse populations, autonomy in my view should be the last principle, with limited health benefits to the patient

References

Cassell, E. J. (2000). The principles of the Belmont report revisited. How have respect for persons, beneficence, and justice been applied to clinical medicine? Hastings Cent Rep. 30(4), 12-21

James, M. and Katz, B. A (2024). Understanding Non-Maleficence in Health Care Ethics. American Institute of Health Professionals. https://aihcp.net/2024/09/10/understanding-non-maleficence-in-health-care-ethics/#:~:text=Core%20principles,minimizes%20harm%20while%20maximizing%20benefits.&text=This%20principle%20is%20particularly%20crucial,managing%20pain%20and%20other%20symptoms.

Varelius, J. (2006). The value of autonomy in medical ethics. Med Health Care Philos, 9(3), 377-88. doi: 10.1007/s11019-006-9000-z

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