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

The four principles of biomedical ethics are respect, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Ethics is an inherent and inseparable part of clinical medicine. (Varkey, 2021) People have their own opinions on how the principles should be ranked based on their worldview. We must remember that neither of these outcomes should be individually conceived. According to Bogue,  the principles are prima facie binding, meaning that principles or duties must be fulfilled unless they conflict with an equal or stronger principle, duty, or obligation on a particular occasion.

 

When I consider my worldview, I would rank the principles in this order: respect, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice.

 

Respect would be ranked first because I believe that if an individual cannot respect their neighbor as a human being, the other principles of medical ethics are forgotten. As a medical professional, we must respect the patient as a whole: their time, their health, their worth, their family, their religion, their community, etc.

 

Nonmaleficence would be ranked second because it is our duty as medical professionals to keep the patient safe. This would fall right after respect because respect sets the foundation of our care. If there is no respect, there would be no concern for any harm being done to the patient. Patient safety is an essential part of what we do.

 

Beneficence would be ranked third because it adds to beneficence. We are still protecting the patient, but now providing benefits and balancing the benefits against risks and costs.

 

Justice would be ranked fourth. Although it is ranked last, it still holds the same importance as the other principles. All patients should receive the same care. Favoritism is not acceptable.

 

A verse I would use to tie all of the principles together would be Matthew 7:12, “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”

 

References:

 

Bogue, D., Cota, M., Torre, V., Evans, K., Hoehner, P., Hogan, M. & White, N. (2024) Practicing Dignity: An Introduction to Christian Values and Decision-Making in Health Care (Third Edition): https://bibliu.com/app/?bibliuMagicToken=vHORZhgT4HLyLJ00duPjXzgm9tEJEywh#/view/books/B1B4SGSSID7LR/epub/Chapter2.html#page_153

 

Varkey B. (2021). Principles of Clinical Ethics and Their Application to Practice. Medical principles and practice: international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre, 30(1), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000509119

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