RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Judgement and the role of the metaphysics of values in medical ethics
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 365
OP 370
DO 10.1136/jme.2005.012518
VO 32
IS 6
A1 T Thornton
YR 2006
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/32/6/365.abstract
AB Despite its authors’ intentions, the four principles approach to medical ethics can become crudely algorithmic in practice. The first section sets out the bare bones of the four principles approach drawing out those aspects of Beauchamp and Childress’s Principles of biomedical ethics that encourage this misreading. The second section argues that if the emphasis on the guidance of moral judgement is augmented by a particularist account of what disciplines it, then the danger can be reduced. In the third section, I consider how much the resultant picture diverges from Beauchamp and Childress’s actual position.