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Non Maleficence Grp3 Ethics

This document discusses the principle of non-maleficence in medical ethics. Non-maleficence refers to the obligation to avoid harming others, and comes from the Latin words for "not" and "bad/evil". It is closely associated with the maxim "first, do no harm". The principle of non-maleficence generally takes precedence over beneficence, which is the obligation to provide benefit. Examples of non-maleficence include not killing, causing pain/suffering, offense, or incapacitation of others. The document also discusses criteria for determining negligence, and practical implications for withholding or withdrawing treatment.

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142 views14 pages

Non Maleficence Grp3 Ethics

This document discusses the principle of non-maleficence in medical ethics. Non-maleficence refers to the obligation to avoid harming others, and comes from the Latin words for "not" and "bad/evil". It is closely associated with the maxim "first, do no harm". The principle of non-maleficence generally takes precedence over beneficence, which is the obligation to provide benefit. Examples of non-maleficence include not killing, causing pain/suffering, offense, or incapacitation of others. The document also discusses criteria for determining negligence, and practical implications for withholding or withdrawing treatment.

Uploaded by

xyl
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Non-

Maleficence
Group 3 | Ethics
What is a
NON-
MALEFICENCE?
- One’s own obligation to do good in the practice of
medicine is also limited by one’s own obligation to
avoid evil/harm. One’s avoidance of harm on others is
embedded into what we call, the principle of non-
maleficence.

- In medical ethics it has been closely associated with


the maxim, primum non nocere, which means, above all
(or first) do no harm (Beauchamp and Childress, 2001).
What is a
NON-
MALEFICENCE?
- comes from a Latin words: ‘non’ to mean
‘not’; ‘malos’ from which ‘male’ is taken to
mean ‘bad/evil’ and ‘faceo’ from which ‘fic’
comes which means ‘do/make’.

Thus the term non-maleficence means not to


make or to do bad or to make evil things
intentionally.
Non-
Maleficence
VS
Beneficence
Non- Beneficence
Maleficence VS
Generally an obligation of non-maleficence is more
stringent than obligations of beneficence and in some
cases, non-maleficence perhaps may override
beneficence. Beauchamp and Childress suggested the
following schema to distinguish the principle of non-
maleficence and beneficence. But the said authors do
not propose a hierarchical order.
Instructive Bioethical
Principle Principle

One ought not to inflict Nonmaleficence


evil or harm

One ought to prevent evil


or harm Beneficence

One ought to remove evil Beneficence


or harm

One ought to do or Beneficence


promote good
Examples of
Non- 1 Do not kill

Maleficence 2 Do not cause pain or suffering


to others
3 Do not cause offense to others

4 Do not incapacitate others

5 Do not deprive others of the


goods of life
Criteria on determining
Negligence
1 2 3 4
The The The affected The
professional professional party must harm must be
must have the must breach experience a caused by the
duty to the that duty. harm. breach of
affected duty.
party.
Principles of
NON-
MALEFICENCE
• affirms the need for medical competence.
• a part of Filipino character through avoidance
of confrontational dialogue that will eventually
cause harm to others.
Practical application/ implication of
the principles of NON-MALEFICENCE
Withholding Treatment and Withdrawing Treatment
- are bioethical issues which can be acted upon or justified by the
following conditions:

When the case is irreversible any form of


1 treatment will not benefit the patient.

When death is immanent or when patient


2 is already dead.
Practical application/ implication of
the principles of
NON-MALEFICENCE
Ordinary Treatments
- comprises of the provision of necessities of life that
usually pertain to food, normal respiration and
elimination process.
Practical application/ implication of
the principles of
NON-MALEFICENCE
Extra-ordinary Treatments
- comprises of the use of aggressive modalities
vis-à-vis the capacities of the family or maybe some
family who can very well afford it, continue to give extra
ordinary measure.
Killing and Letting Die
In ordinary language ‘killing’ is a causal action that
deliberately brings about another’s death.

‘Letting die’ is ‘prima facie’ acceptable in


medicine under two conditions:

1. a medical technology is useless (medically futile) and

2. patients (or valid surrogate/proxy) have validly refused


a medical technology
Thank
You!

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