4: The Principle of Double Effect

Principle of Double Effect

This principle is primarily used when a particular procedure will engender not only beneficial effects but also harmful effects that are foreseen/calculated

Principle of Double Effect

This principle attempts to establish a judgment over an action that is ethically legitimate, even if the act is followed by an evil effect

four

For an action to be ethically legitimate or justified, it must satisfy how many conditions as required by the principle?

The act must be ethically good or at least indifferent

• One of the four conditions for an action to be ethically legitimate from the Principle of Double Effect

• Its criterias are: (1) an act directed toward the right ultimate end, (2) choose an effective means to achieve that goal, (3) the intention should be honest

The agent’s intention is to achieve directly the beneficial effect and even if their is a resulting harmful effect

• One of the four conditions for an action to be ethically legitimate from the Principle of Double Effect

• This states that the good effect must be “primus in intentione.”

The agent’s intention is to achieve directly the beneficial effect and even if there is a resulting harmful effect

• One of the four conditions for an action to be ethically legitimate from the Principle of Double Effect

• In this, the unforeseen harmful effect, though necessary, is not the direct intention sought but only as a side effect of an action

The agent’s intention is to achieve directly the beneficial effect and even if there is a resulting harmful effect

• One of the four conditions for an action to be ethically legitimate from the Principle of Double Effect

• In this case, if that which is directly intended is wrong, then the act is wrong

The foreseen beneficial effects must be equal to or greater than the foreseen harmful effects

• One of the four conditions for an action to be ethically legitimate from the Principle of Double Effect

• In this, the beneficial effect of an act must be greater in value or at least equal to the harmful effects

The foreseen beneficial effects must be equal to or greater than the foreseen harmful effects

• One of the four conditions for an action to be ethically legitimate from the Principle of Double Effect

• In this, if there is an imbalance that is present in both good that is sought and the bad that is avoided must be resolved

The foreseen beneficial effects must be equal to or greater than the foreseen harmful effects

• One of the four conditions for an action to be ethically legitimate from the Principle of Double Effect

• Principle of Proportionality

Principle of Proportionality

This refers to a legal and ethical rule requiring that actions, particularly those causing harm or restricting rights, must not be excessive in relation to their intended objective.

The beneficial effect must happen first or at least at the same time as the harmful effect

• One of the four conditions for an action to be ethically legitimate from the Principle of Double Effect

• This requisite is a necessary requirement under the elemnt of the order of time

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

The beneficial effect must happen first or at least at the same time as the harmful effect

• One of the four conditions for an action to be ethically legitimate from the Principle of Double Effect

• In this, if evil happens first before the good, then it could be understood as using evil means to achieve the good

Principle of Legitimate Cooperation

This principle states that in order to achieve a well-formed conscience, one should always judge it unethical to cooperate formally with an immoral act

Principle of Legitimate Cooperation

In this principle, the kind of cooperation is not immediate and is more remote from doing the evil involved

Principle of Legitimate Cooperation

This principle states that one may sometimes judge the immoral act to be an ethical duty rather than unethical to cooperate materially with an immoral act (that is, only indirectly intend it harmful effect) when only in this way can greater harm be prevented

cooperation is not immediate; the degree of cooperation and the danger of the scandal are taken into account

In the Principle of Legitimate Cooperation, 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:

formal cooperation

In the Principle of Legitimate Cooperation, this refers to the one which is identified with the purpose of an objectively evil act

Principle of Legitimate Cooperation

In this principle, 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

In the Principle of Legitimate Cooperation, this refers to when one is identified to act but not to the purpose of it

Principle of Legitimate Cooperation

This principle is done to prove that one truly avoids formal cooperation

ectopic pregnancy, chemotherapy

What are the classic cases of the Principle of Double Effect?

Case of referral to another provider

What is a classic case of the principle of legitimate cooperation?

self-governing

What does autonomy means?

self, law

The term autonomy comes from two Greek words, auto and nomous which means?

self-determination

An attribute of a person who possesses a right to exercise freedom of choice and action in the pursuit of individual goals, whether at present or in the future

Principle of Autonomy of Patients

In this principle, the patient is the most important person in healthcare and his decision must be respected as they relate to the exercise of his freedom and is an essential part of his personhood

autonomy

Its concept has been understood by some in an extreme way as having the “right to whatever they wish with their bodies as long as no one else is harmed”

intrinsically good

The exercise of genuine autonomy is through achievement of what is…

relationship between doctor and patient is based on trust

The relationship of physician and patient is government by a moral contract

according to the expertise of the health provider; according to the capability of the health facility

The doctor promises to treat his patient “according to his best judgment”

diagnosis, therapeutic management, prognosis, financial implications

The doctor, although he believes he knows best, should fully inform his patient and defer to the latter’s option to accept or reject the proposed plans of management, this includes:

durable power of attorney (DPA), advance directive/last will and testament, familial relations

When the patient is incompetent, proxy consent should be obtained, including:

Principle of Autonomy of Patients

Autonomy should be respected unless his actions constitute an evil act