Ethical Principles

The ethical principles are the forming foundations of ethical analysis as they are the viewpoints from which guidance can be obtained along the pathway to a decision.

Beneficence

Principle of beneficence directs the ethical theory to do what is good. Primarily, the priority to “do well” makes an ethical perspective and possible solution to an ethical dilemma acceptable. The Principle of beneficence is also related to the principle of utility, which says that we should attempt to generate the largest ratio of good over evil possible in the world. This principle stipulates that ethical theories should aim to achieve the greatest amount of good because people benefit from the most good. The principle is primarily associated with the utilitarian ethical theory. For instance the practice of medicine in which the health of an individual is bettered by treatment from a physician illustrates an act of “doing good”.

Least Harm

This principle is somewhat similar to beneficence, but it deals with situations in which neither of the choices is beneficial. Under this principle, a person should choose to do the least harm possible and to the fewest people. Example, in the Hippocratic Oath, taken by physician, they are first charged with the responsibility to “do no harm” to the patient since the physician’s primary duty is to provide treatment to the patient rather than to inflict more suffering upon the patient.

Respect for Autonomy

The principle of respect for autonomy states that an ethical theory should permit people to rule over themselves and to be able to make decisions that apply to their lives. Which clearly means that people should follow as much control as possible over their lives since they better understand their chosen type of lifestyle. Truly, this ethical principle is an extension of the ethical principle of beneficence since an independent person usually prefers to have control over his life experiences in order to obtain the lifestyle that he enjoys.

Viewpoints of respect for Autonomy

1. Paternalistic viewpoint: In this view point an authority prioritizes a dependent person’s best interests over the dependent person’s wishes. For instance, a patient suffering from cancer may prefer to live the rest of her life without the medication that makes her constantly ill. Where on the other hand the physician, may convince the patient and her family members to make the patient continue taking her medication as it will prolong his In the given scenario the physician uses his or her authority to manipulate the patient to choose the treatment that will benefit him or her best medically. But a drawback of this principle is that the paternalistic figure may not hold the same ideals as the dependent person and will deny the patient’s autonomy and ability to choose her treatment which further leads to a decreased amount of beneficence.
2. Libertarian viewpoint: Other way to view the respect for autonomy is the libertarian view. In this case this standpoint prioritizes the patient’s wishes over their best interests which mean the patient has control over his life and should be content with her quality of life as he has chosen the path of life with the greatest amount of personal beneficence. One of the drawbacks of this viewpoint is that even though it is more watchful of the patient’s desires, it does not prevent the patient from making decisions that may be more harmful than doing any good.

Justice

The justice ethical principle states that ethical theories should perform actions that are fair to those involved. Therefore the ethical decisions should be consistent with the ethical theory unless mitigating circumstances exist that can be justified in this case. Which means situations with justifying circumstances must hold a significant and vital difference from similar cases that justify the inconsistent decision. So, an ethical decision that contains justice within it has a consistent logical justification that supports the decision. For instance a cop would be allowed to speed up on the highway if he must arrive at the scene of a crime as quickly as possible in order to prevent a crime. In general the policeman would be required to obey the speed limit, yet he is allowed to speed in this situation as it is a justified under such extenuating circumstances.