Ethical principles of Beauchamp and Childress

Ethical principles of Beauchamp and Childress 1
Ethical principles of Beauchamp and Childress
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Ethical principles of Beauchamp and Childress 2
Ethics is a code of conduct that directs and molds people’s behavior in a society. Medical
ethics ensures that proper patient care is the priority and eliminates mistakes that would be done
by medical practitioners who act on their own instead of following counsel given. According to
Gillon (2015), the universal principles of biomedical ethics by Beauchamp and Childress are
critical in medical field. They describe the four main ethical principles which are respect for
autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice. These principles are the foundation of
decision making in the medical field and justifying those decisions (Pieper & Thomson, 2016).
Adolescents are seeking contraceptive care from health care providers at a high rate. With this, a
lot of issues have been raised such as parent participation and confidentiality. In this essay I will
apply the four principles in the case scenario highlighting some of the questions and dilemmas
that medical practitioners face when they are torn between two decisions as well as the effect of
applying the ethical principles in practice.
Autonomy is the right of competent adults to make enlightened decisions concerning
their medical care. Osamor and Grady (2017) were for the opinion that autonomy is important in
making decisions in different health care circumstances from seeking health care to selecting a
treatment option. According to Beauchamp and Childress, autonomy is being free from factors
that control or promote individual limitations. Health care providers are demanded to be truthful
to their patients and observe the right they have to make decisions. Patients have the right to
determine their treatment plan as long as they are given sufficient and extensive information. A
medical practitioner is compelled to obtain informed consent before finalizing any treatment or
procedures on the patient. When it comes to adolescents they to some extent have a capacity to
make their own decisions. Health care providers in the presence of parents are faced with the
trouble of making decisions in this age group. An adolescent can be assessed if he or she has the
ability to make a decision on their own and if he or she is able to comprehend the benefits and
risks. This is by having a sincere relationship with the health care provider, recognizing the
adolescent’s growth in age and potential, incorporation of peers or relatives, control of factors
that may cause compulsion and demonstrating a choice. If the adolescent does not have the
ability to make the decision then the parents are called upon to make the decision for them (Ruhe
et al, 2015).

Ethical principles of Beauchamp and Childress 3
According to the Australian law, maturity is when one reaches the age of 18 years but if a
physician deduces that a young patient is able to reach their own decisions their consent is well-
founded provided another physician who had previously examined the patient had come to the
same inference and in writing. Hence it is up to the health provider to ascertain whether someone
has the ability to make a decision. However, adolescents have restricted rights when it comes to
matters such as family planning services and drug abuse treatment. With regards to the case
scenario, Taylah seeking the use of contraception should be advised on the proper method of
contraception. She should then be instructed by the nurse on how to use the medication and be
supported through counseling.
Grace (2017) was for the opinion that beneficence is one of the basic and core principles
in bioethics. It is defined as promoting and doing the just thing to others. Beneficence has two
features which are providing benefits and balancing benefits and risks. Physicians are demanded
to provide positive benefits such as good health and prevent and remove conditions from their
patients from the best of their ability. This makes health providers obliged to help their patients
and by promoting their interests and not injure them in any way. A question arises on what it
means to the physician to balance between good and harm to the patient. There is a beneficence
model that adopts the patient’s interests instead of the physicians. This model states that that the
key subject of beneficence is the responsibility of the health care provider to the patient. The
Hippocratic Oath, being a source for this principle, brings to light the concepts on how a
physician benefits the sick while avoiding harm to patients.
A physician should have the capability the balance the benefits and risks in the actions he
or she takes. The two principles of positive beneficence and utility are important. The principle
of positive beneficence requires provision of benefits by prevention and removal of harm from
patients and promotes their welfare. This implies that beneficence is also extended to third
parties for example parents of a child which however create moral dilemmas that are difficult to
solve. The principle of utility on the other hand involves weighing and balancing benefits and
harms in moral life by analyzing, evaluating and promoting their actions which in the end benefit
the patient. Interests of the society should overturn the interests and rights of an individual.