BENEFICENCE AND

NONMALEFICENCE
THE OBLIGATION OF HEALTH CARE
PRACTITIONERS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH,
WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF THE SICK.
(while being mindful of the patient’s personal autonomy
“THE NURSE’S PRIMARY COMMITMENT
IS TO THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND
THE SAFETY OF THE PATIENT
Code of Ethics, ANA
NONMALEFICENCE: TO DO NO
HARM OR EVIL TO THE PATIENT
I will never use treatment to injure or wrong the sick
 BENEFICENCE ANDNONMALEFICENCE
• One ought to prevent harm or evil • One ought not to inflict evil or harm

• One ought to remove harm or evil

• One ought to do or promote good

THE PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE EFFECT
The course chosen must be good or atleast morally neutral
The good must not follow as a consequence of the secondary harmful effects
The harm must never be intended but merely tolerated as causally connected with the good
intended
The good mut outweigh the harm