Generally speaking, bioethics helps determine what is responsible by considering four key principles: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. The principle of autonomy is about respecting people and their free will. Beneficence and nonmaleficence are two sides of the same coin: doing what is helpful, and not doing what is harmful. Justice, in this context, has to do with being fair in giving out both benefits and risks.
Using your own words, answer the following questions:
- How these models relate to one another varies with each circumstance
- In your personal opinion which model may be the most important.
Models:
- Ethic of Care Model
- Narrative Ethics Model
- Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Discussion Board
Full Answer Section
For example, a person who is terminally ill may choose to refuse life-saving treatment. However, their doctor may believe that the treatment would be beneficial and that the person should choose to have the treatment. In this case, the doctor would need to balance the principle of autonomy with the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence.
Another example is a person who is pregnant with a fetus that has a severe genetic disorder. The person may choose to terminate the pregnancy, but their doctor may believe that abortion is wrong. In this case, the doctor would need to balance their own personal beliefs with the principle of autonomy.
The principle of justice is about being fair in giving out both benefits and risks. However, there may be times when it is not possible to be perfectly fair. For example, a person who needs a life-saving organ transplant may have to wait a long time for a donor organ. This is because there are more people who need organ transplants than there are donor organs available.
In this case, the principle of justice may not be perfectly implemented, but it is still important to consider. The decision of who should receive an organ transplant should be made based on fair criteria, such as medical need and time on the waiting list.
Which model is the most important?
In my personal opinion, the most important model is autonomy. This is because I believe that people have the right to make their own decisions about their care, even if those decisions are not in their best interests. I believe that it is important to respect people's right to self-determination and to allow them to make choices that are consistent with their values and beliefs.
However, I also believe that the other three principles are important and that they should be considered in conjunction with the principle of autonomy. I believe that it is important to do what is helpful and to avoid doing what is harmful. I also believe that it is important to be fair in giving out both benefits and risks.
Ultimately, the best way to balance the four principles of bioethics is to consider the specific circumstances of each situation. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.
Sample Answer
The four principles of bioethics - autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice - are all interconnected, but they can also conflict with each other in certain situations. This is because each principle is important in its own right, but there are times when one principle may be more important than another, depending on the specific circumstances.
For example, the principle of autonomy is about respecting people's right to make their own decisions about their care. However, there may be times when a person's decision is not in their best interests. In these cases, the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence may outweigh the principle of autonomy