Judgement and the role of the metaphysics of values in medical ethics. Issue 6 (26th May 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thornton, T
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical ethics. Volume 32:Issue 6(2006)
• Page Start: 365
• Page End: 370
• Publication Date: 2006-05-26
• Subjects: Medical ethics -- Periodicals; 174.2
• DOI: 10.1136/jme.2005.012518
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-6800

Abstract

Abstract : Despite its authors' intentions, the four principles approach to medical ethics can become crudely algorithmic in practice. The first section sets out the bare bones of the four principles approach drawing out those aspects of Beauchamp and Childress's Principles of biomedical ethics that encourage this misreading. The second section argues that if the emphasis on the guidance of moral judgement is augmented by a particularist account of what disciplines it, then the danger can be reduced. In the third section, I consider how much the resultant picture diverges from Beauchamp and Childress's actual position.