Principles of Biomedical Ethics

The classic work that has shaped the field of biomedical ethics, fully updated to include cutting-edge approaches and research. Principles of Biomedical Ethics provides a highly original, insightful, and practical guide to morality in the health professions, health policy, and public health. Acclaimed authors Tom L. Beauchamp and James F. Childress thoroughly develop and advocate for four principles that lie at the core of moral reasoning in health care: respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. Drawing from contemporary research - and integrating detailed case studies and vivid real-life examples and scenarios - they demonstrate how these prima facie principles can be used to address various conflicts and dilemmas, from how to deliver bad news to the decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatments.
Ideal for courses in biomedical ethics, bioethics, and health care ethics, the text is enhanced by hundreds of annotated citations, along with key terms and concepts. It is accompanied by additional online resources for instructors.

Tom L. Beauchamp (d. 2025) was Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Senior Research Scholar Emeritus, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University. He took graduate degrees from Yale University and Johns Hopkins University, where he received his PhD in 1970.

James F. Childress is Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia, where he was the John Allen Hollingsworth Professor of Ethics, Professor of Religious Studies, Professor of Public Policy, and Professor of Research in Medical Education in the School of Medicine.

PART I MORAL FOUNDATIONS
1. Moral Norms
1.1 Normative and Nonnormative Ethics
1.2 The Common Morality as Universal Morality
1.3 Particular Moralities as Nonuniversal
1.4 Moral Dilemmas
1.5 A Framework of Moral Principles
1.6 Conflicting Moral Norms
1.7 Conclusion
2. Moral Character
2.1 The Concept of Moral Virtue
2.2 Virtues in Professional Roles
2.3 The Central Virtue of Care/Caring
2.4 Five Focal Virtues
2.5 Moral Ideals
2.6 Moral Excellence
2.7 Conclusion
3. Moral Status
3.1 The Problem of Moral Status
3.2 Theories of Moral Status
3.3 From Theories to Practical Guidelines
3.4 The Moral Significance of Moral Status
3.5 Vulnerable Populations and Vulnerable Individuals
3.6 Conclusion
PART II MORAL PRINCIPLES
4. Respect for Autonomy
4.1 The Concept of Autonomy and the Principle of Respect for Autonomy
4.2 The Capacity for Autonomous Choice
4.3 The Meaning and Justification of Informed Consent
4.4 Disclosure
4.5 Understanding
4.6 Voluntariness
4.7 Public Health Interventions and Respect for Autonomy
4.8 Surrogate Decision Making for Nonautonomous Patients
4.9 Conclusion
5. Nonmaleficence
5.1 The Concept and Principle of Nonmaleficence
5.2 Distinctions and Rules Governing Nontreatment Decisions
5.3 Optional Treatments and Obligatory Treatments
5.4 Killing and Letting Die
5.5 Intentionally Arranged Deaths: When, If Ever, Are They Justified?
5.6 Protecting Decisionally Incapacitated Patients from Harm
5.7 Whose Risks and Whose Benefits? Problems of Underprotection and Overprotection in Research
5.8 Conclusion
6. Beneficence
6.1 The Concept of Beneficence and Principles of Beneficence
6.2 Obligatory Beneficence and Ideal Beneficence
6.3 Paternalism: Conflicts between Beneficence and Respect for Autonomy
6.4 Public Health: Goals and Interventions
6.5 Balancing Benefits, Costs, and Risks
6.6 The Value and Quality of Life
6.7 Conclusion
7. Justice
7.1 The Concept of Justice and Principles of Justice
7.2 Traditional Theories of Justice
7.3 Two Theories Closely Connected to the Value of Health
7.4 Fair Opportunity and Unfair Discrimination
7.5 Vulnerability, Exploitation, and Discrimination in Research
7.6 National Health Policy and the Right to Health Care
7.7 Global Health Policy and the Right to Health
7.8 Allocating, Setting Priorities, and Rationing
7.9 Conclusion
8. Rules, Roles, and Relationships
8.1 Veracity
8.2 Privacy
8.3 Confidentiality
8.4 Fidelity
8.5 The Distinction between Clinical Ethics and Research Ethics
8.6 Conclusion
PART III THEORY AND METHOD
9. Moral Theories
9.1 Criteria for Assessing Moral Theories
9.2 Utilitarian Theory
9.3 Kantian Theory
9.4 Rights Theory
9.5 Virtue Theory
9.6 The Convergence of Theories on Principles
9.7 Conclusion
10. Method and Moral Justification
10.1 Justification in Ethics
10.2 Top-Down Model: Theory and Application
10.3 Bottom-Up Model: Cases and Analogical Reasoning
10.4 An Integrated Model: Reflective Equilibrium
10.5 Common-Morality Theory
10.6 Conclusion
Index