11 Prima Facie Duties

1. Fidelity- duties of fidelity are duties to keep one’s promises and contracts and not to
engage in deception. Ross describes them as "those resting on a promise or what may
fairly be called an implicit promise, such as the implicit undertaking not to tell lies which
seems to be implied in the act of entering into conversation or of writing books that
purport to be history and not fiction" (Ross, 21)

Example: A patient requests that a nurse not reveal his terminal diagnosis to his
family. The patient explains that his family would probably disregard his wishes and
keep him alive no matter the circumstances. The nurse must recognize the
obligation to keep this information in confidence and still support the patient’s
family.”

2. Reparation- This is a duty to make up for the injuries one has done to others. Ross
describes this duty as "resting on a previous wrongful act"

Example: Making amends to a patient that you may have not been in good terms
of because of stress.

3. Gratitude- The duty of gratitude is a duty to be grateful for benefactions done to

oneself and if possible to show it by benefactions in return.

Example: A nurse must be grateful for the opportunity to save a life.

4. Non-injury- The duty of non-injury (also known as non-maleficence) is the duty not to
harm others physically or psychologically: to avoid harming their health, security,
intelligence, character, or happiness.

Example: By lifting the side-rails of the bed of a patient, it prevents fall does
preventing injuries.

4. Harm-Prevention- once again, this is the prima facie duty of a person to prevent
harm to others from causes other than him- or herself.

Example: Making sure that the medication is for the correct patient, correct dosage
and correct route.

5. Beneficence- the duty to do good to others: to foster their health, security, wisdom,
moral goodness, or happiness.

Example: A nurse demonstrating this ethical principle is by holding a dying patient's

hand.
7. Self-improvement- the duty of self-improvement is to act so as to promote one's own
good, i.e., one's own health, security, wisdom, moral goodness, and happiness. Ross
himself mentions "virtue" or "intelligence" in this connection.

Example: Having self-awareness can help a person what area or aspect in life
should need self-improvement.

8. Justice- the duty of justice requires that one act in such a way that one distributes
benefits and burdens fairly.

Example: Nurses making impartial medical decisions demonstrate this, whether it

relates to limited resources or new treatments regardless of economic status,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.

9. Respect for freedom- So far as possible we should avoid coercion of others and, in so
far as we are able, provide conditions of empowerment especially to those who
radically lack them.

Example: Appreciating differences is the start of respecting one’s freedom. When

you appreciate how different you are from another person, you are equally
providing the same treatment to everyone like yours.

10. Care- a second possible prima facie duty not mentioned by Ross is the duty to care,
a duty reflecting concrete relationships such as occur within families or between close
friends. Some moral philosophers favor adding Care to the list, while others warn that it
will be misapplied if used too often to override other prima facie duties.

Example: Being a person-centered care with empathy

11. Non-parasitism- this is the principle of not being a "free rider." This guideline asserts
that, as a general rule, we should do our part to abide by the rules of an institution in
which we willingly participate and from which we willingly accept benefits. This prima
facie duty weighs against plagiarism and activities that violate laws.

Example: Stealing from another person is the same as being a parasite in an

institution.