Bioethical Principles

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Health care providers are faced with bioethical issues every day when caring for a wide variety of patients. Bioethical principles are outlined in order to help these professionals provide the best possible care for their clients. The first principle focuses on the autonomy of individuals. This is the foundation of “informed consent” that is required before performing any medical care on a patient. The patient must completely understand the benefits and risks associated with any medical acts and make their own decision. The second principle states that no intentional harm or injury to the patient can result from the medical decision. This principle of nonmaleficence helps set standards of care to prevent wrongdoing. Beneficence is the third bioethical principle that states that it is the responsibility of the health care provider to benefit the patient. The fourth bioethical principle refers to justice and that each patient is treated with fairness. Every patient is entitled to impartial medical care to ensure the appropriate distribution of goods and services (McCormick, 2013). These bioethical principles help guide health care professionals when making difficult decisions related to controversial topics and practices. A prominent controversial bioethical issue in the United States today is concerning vaccination …show more content…

Vaccination is a direct benefit to the recipient and an indirect benefit to others in the community. Therefore, appropriate vaccination of children acts to benefit the individual and others. Consequently, not receiving vaccinations can harm the individual as well as others in the community that are unable to get vaccinated due to health reasons. Requiring vaccinations can satisfy the bioethical principles addressing beneficence as well as nonmaleficence (El Amin, Parra, Kim-Farley & Fielding,

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