Edition, 1993, unless otherwise indicated.

[These texts are available at the Erlanger Hospital Medical Library]. A standard approach to biomedical ethics, developed by Beauchamp and Childress in Principles of Biomedical Ethics, resolves ethical issues in terms of four ethical principles: Autonomy [pages 1-6] Beneficence & non-maleficence [pages 6-10] Justice [pages 10-12] Each of which need to be weighed and balanced in determining an optimal course of action. All of these principles require a conversation about the needs and desires of the patient or, in the case of justice, members of community. The principles are intended to guide. In the case of autonomy, we are required to determine the wishes of the patient in order to protect his or her autonomy. In the case of beneficence and non-maleficence, we are required to determine the patient’s views of what does and does not count as goods to be pursued or harms to be avoided. In the case of justice, we are require