Ethical Decision-Making in Physical Therapy |
Principles of Health Care EthicsEthical principles provide general guidance for helping us make ethical decisions. As we discuss four generally accepted principles of health care, which are respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice, keep in mind that these are general guidelines that leave considerable room for judgment in specific cases. These principles have been described in depth by the ethicists Beauchamp and Childress whose books are listed in the reference list. You will see how these principles can be called upon for guidance in decision-making, and also how they can conflict with each other. It is not always easy to determine which principle should be invoked in a case. Each specific ethical dilemma that you face will be imbedded in a unique situation that may involve multiple persons and issues. The principles will only be helpful in a real case if you gather as much information about the situation as possible to individualize the decision-making process. |