Principles of beneficence and non-maleficence
_In order to have a common basis of understanding some words need to be defined:_
_BENEFICENCE:_ _The action of helping others and performing actions that would result in benefit to another person._
_NON-MALEFICENCE:_ _The avoidance of causing harm or evil by doing a certain action or by not doing any action at all._
_PHYSICIAN:_ _is a professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments_.
_TORT_ : A civil wrong committed against a person or property, excluding breach of contract.
BENEFICENCE AND NON-MALEFICENCE
As the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence are closely related, they are discussed together in this section. Beneficence involves balancing the benefits of treatment against the risks and costs involved, whereas non-maleficence means avoiding the causation of harm. As many treatments involve some degree of harm, the principle of non-maleficence would imply that the harm should not be disproportionate to the benefit of the treatment. Respecting the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence may in certain circumstances mean failing to respect a person 's autonomy i.e. respecting their views about a particular treatment. For example, it may be necessary to provide treatment that is not desired in order to prevent the development of a future, more serious health problem. The treatment might be unpleasant, uncomfortable or even painful but this might involve less harm to the patient than would occur, were they not to have it.
In cases where the patient lacks legal competence to make a decision, medical staffs are expected to act in the best interests of the patient. In doing so, they may take into account the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. However, it would be helpful for medical staff in such cases, if the patient lacking capacity had made an advance directive.
_BENEFICENCE:_ _The action of helping others and performing actions that would result in benefit to another person._
_NON-MALEFICENCE:_ _The avoidance of causing harm or evil by doing a certain action or by not doing any action at all._
_PHYSICIAN:_ _is a professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments_.
_TORT_ : A civil wrong committed against a person or property, excluding breach of contract.
BENEFICENCE AND NON-MALEFICENCE
As the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence are closely related, they are discussed together in this section. Beneficence involves balancing the benefits of treatment against the risks and costs involved, whereas non-maleficence means avoiding the causation of harm. As many treatments involve some degree of harm, the principle of non-maleficence would imply that the harm should not be disproportionate to the benefit of the treatment. Respecting the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence may in certain circumstances mean failing to respect a person 's autonomy i.e. respecting their views about a particular treatment. For example, it may be necessary to provide treatment that is not desired in order to prevent the development of a future, more serious health problem. The treatment might be unpleasant, uncomfortable or even painful but this might involve less harm to the patient than would occur, were they not to have it.
In cases where the patient lacks legal competence to make a decision, medical staffs are expected to act in the best interests of the patient. In doing so, they may take into account the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. However, it would be helpful for medical staff in such cases, if the patient lacking capacity had made an advance directive.
Bibliography: _HTTP://LABSPACE.OPEN.AC.UK/MOD/OUCONTENT/VIEW.PHP?ID=454408&SECTION=1.4.4_ _HTTP://WWW.ALZHEIMER-EUROPE.ORG/ETHICS/DEFINITIONS-AND-APPROACHES/THE-FOUR-COMMON-BIOETHICAL-PRINCIPLES/BENEFICENCE-AND-NON-MALEFICENCE_ _HTTP://MISSINGLINK.UCSF.EDU/LM/ETHICS/CONTENT%20PAGES/FAST_FACT_BENE_NONMAL.HTM_ _HTTPS://ANSWERS.YAHOO.COM/QUESTION/INDEX?QID=20081104193307AAF3JGM_ HEALTH CARE ETHICS (5TH EDITION) BY THOMAS M. GARRETT, CHAPTER 4: PRINCIPLES OF BENEFICENCE AND NON-MALEFICENCE. ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES FOR IMAGING PROFESSIONALS (2ND EDITION) BY DOREEN M. TOWSLEY-COOK AND TERESE A. YOUNG, CHAPTER 2: PRINCIPLES OF BENEFICENCE AND NON-MALEFICENCE.