NON MALEFICENCE

by GCY
 NON MALEFICENCE
• Simply means to DO NO HARM.
• Traditionally, this is at the heart of
medical ethics and is part of the
Hippocratic Oath (an oath that new
doctors take in many countries).
• Focus: physical, emotional or
psychological harm, and any action
that negatively affects a person’s
welfare
 NON MALEFICENCE
• In many medical situations, it must
be balanced with the principle of
beneficence (an action done for the
benefit of others).
• This principle is the basis for our
idea of a right to life – the idea that
prohibits assault, torture, or
humiliation – all things that cause
people tremendous harm.
 NON MALEFICENCE
• It is often called a NEGATIVE
PRINCIPLE as it point to negative
obligations to “do NO harm”
• It stresses on what you may not do,
thus, by DOING NOTHING, you
justify what the principle meant.
 NON MALEFICENCE
• According to Post and Blustein, “the principal
grounds obligations to avoid unnecessary
infliction of harm or suffering recognizing that
conceptions of harm as of good are inextricably
tied to individual values and interests. Most, if
not all therapies, carry the potential for some risk
as well as benefit. And it would not be feasible to
limit the therapeutic arsenal to treatments that
are entirely benign”.
 NON MALEFICENCE
• For example, many beneficial
medications may also have serious
side effects and so the risks and
benefits must be carefully
considered by doctors and patients.
Ultimately, the patient must decide
whether the benefits outweigh the
risks before consenting to a
treatment.
Video on Non-Maleficence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5PZbktbujQ
Forum Question:
• WHY IS IT WRONG TO HARM OR
INJURE PEOPLE?
• WHY IS THIS PRINCIPLE OF
NON-MALEFICENCE A VALID
MORAL CONSIDERATION
ESPECIALLY AMONG
HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS?