Reference no: EM133444333
In the field of medical ethics, the four principles of biomedical ethics are autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. On the same note, the four principles based on the context of bioethics in the United States have been critiqued for placing autonomy at the highest level (W. Bogue et al., 2022, p.153). Each of the four principles is important and interconnected, and ethical decision-making often involves balancing these principles to achieve the best outcome for the patient. Based on the class teachings and research from various peer-reviewed sources, I would rank the four principles of biomedical ethics with respect to autonomy, taking the top spot followed by beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.
Despite several criticisms for being placed at the highest level, I rank respect for autonomy at the top. Autonomy refers to respecting the decision-making capacity of autonomous individuals, and it is a fundamental principle in a healthcare setting (W. Bogue et al., 2022, p. 150). To make an autonomous choice, three conditions must be present: intention, understanding, and freedom. However, there are instances in which there may be overriding moral considerations, such as public welfare and safety, where respect for autonomy must be balanced with other principles like justice and beneficence (W. Bogue et al., 2022, p. 150). Respect for autonomy is ranked top as it has many prima facie implications in healthcare. Based on this principle, healthcare practitioners must consult with patients before they can help them.
The second principle would be Beneficence. According to W. Bogue et al. (2022), this principle requires healthcare professionals to contribute to their patient's welfare, respect their autonomous decisions, and refrain from harming them (p.155). It underlies all medical and healthcare professions and embodies medicine's goal, rationale, and justification. Beneficence involves two aspects: positive beneficence and utility. Positive beneficence requires individuals to provide benefits to others, and utility requires balancing benefits and risks to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Nonmaleficence is the principle that requires individuals to refrain from harming others, and it is based on the presumed Hippocratic maxim primum non nocere, which means "above all, do no harm" (W. Bogue et al., 2022, p. 160). However, in medical practice, it is challenging to avoid harm, as many medical procedures involve pain, discomfort, and risks. Nonmaleficence must be nuanced to be of any practical use, and it means avoiding anything that is unnecessarily or unjustifiably harmful or imposes unwarranted risks of harm.
Lastly, I would rank justice as the fourth principle of biomedical ethics. Justice is crucial and aligns with the biblical principles of fairness and equality. Justice is sometimes equated with fairness, which may be defined as the moral responsibility to behave based on a fair assessment of conflicting claims. In health care ethics, justice is a prima facie moral. Justice responsibilities can be categorized into three principles: distributive justice, right-based justice, and legal justice (Vearrier & Henderson, 2021, p. 56).
As a Christian worldview embraces respecting a patient's autonomy, I believe the first principle would be respect for Autonomy. The second principle would be nonmaleficence, which requires persons to refrain from harming others. The third principle would be Beneficence, which requires that healthcare professionals not only respect the autonomous decisions of their patients regarding their health care and refrain from harming them, but also they should contribute to their patient's welfare. Justice would be the fourth principle in the Christian biblical narrative as it emphasizes the need to care for the marginalized and vulnerable, aligning with Jesus' teachings of love, compassion, and justice for all people (W. Bogue et al., 2022, p.160). Therefore, in the Christian biblical narrative, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and autonomy are all important, but their relative importance may depend on the specific context and circumstances.
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