PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE EFFECT, PRINCIPLE OF LEGITIMATE COOPERATION, PRINCIPLE OF AUTONOMY OF PATIENTS

Principle of Double Effect

This principle is primarily used when a

particular procedure will engender not only

beneficial effects but also (calculate/foreseen)

harmful effects.

• act must be ethically good or indifferent

• act directed toward the right ultimate end

• choose an effective means to achieve that goal

• intention should be honest

Four conditions required by the principle of double effect

The agent’s intention is to achieve directly

the beneficial effect and even if there is a

resulting harmful effect

• Principle of Double Effect intention

• primus in intentione

Principle of Proportionality

• The foreseen beneficial effects must be

equal to or greater than the foreseen

harmful effects.

• The beneficial effect of an act must be greater in value or at least equal to the harmful effect.

• If there is an imbalance that is present in both

good that is sought and the bad that is avoided

must be resolved.

Order of Time

• The beneficial effect must happen first or

  at least at the same time as the harmful

  effect.

• The good effect should never be a result of the bad effect.

• If evil happens first before the good, then it could be understood as using evil means to achieve the good.

examples of principle of double effect

ectopic pregnancy, chemotherapy

Principle of Legitimate Cooperation

• To achieve a well-formed conscience, one should always judge it unethical to cooperate formally with an immoral act;

• But one may sometimes judge it to be an ethical

duty to cooperate materially with an immoral act

(that is, only indirectly intend its harmful effect)

when only in this way can greater harm be

prevented, provided:

▫ That cooperation is not immediate; and

▫ The degree of cooperation and the danger of the

scandal are taken into account.

Formal Cooperation

• one that which is identified with the purpose of an objectively evil act.

• The one who cooperates has a direct intention

for the evil object has direct intention for the evil

object itself.

▫ Doing the act itself, agreeing with the act,

counselling, advising, promoting, provoking,

condoning the evil act.

Material Cooperation

• one is identified to

act but not to the purpose of it.

• This kind of cooperation is not immediate and is

more remote from doing the evil involved.

• This is done to prove that one truly avoids

formal cooperation

Principle of Autonomy of Patients

• “right to whatever they wish with their bodies as long as no one else is harmed.”

• Autonomy should be respected unless his

  actions constitute an evil act.

auto

self

nomous

law

autonomy

literally means self-governing

durable power of attorney, last will and testament, familial relations

if patient is incompetent, proxy consent should be obtained