The Four Principles of Bioethics and the Belmont Report

Oct 17, 2024

2 min read

The Belmont Report, published in 1979, is an important document in the field of bioethics. The document establishes guidelines and principles when dealing with human subjects in research and in healthcare. The report was created by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects, in response to the infamous cases of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and Nazi experiments. In these cases severe human rights abuses took place in the name of scientific research, so a more complete and explicit set of guidelines were needed to protect vulnerable populations. The commission formulated the 4 core principles, written in the Belmont Report.

The four principles approach is based on the commitments of respect for autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. The four principles of bioethics allow for a “simple, accessible, and culturally natural” way of thinking about ethical dilemmas in healthcare. These principles help doctors and healthcare workers make decisions when ethical issues arise.

Autonomy

Autonomy is a fundamental principle of bioethics that highlights an individual’s right to make informed decisions regarding their health and medical treatment. It is based on the respect for individual freedom. It also ensures that the patients are fully informed about their options and potential consequences regarding their decision. Healthcare professionals must obtain informed consent before the patient undergoes any treatment. Autonomy is sometimes also referred to as “Respect for persons.”

Beneficence

Beneficence is the principle that states healthcare professionals must act in the patient's best interest by promoting their overall well-being. The health care professional must actively contribute towards the patient’s overall health and happiness. Obligated by beneficence, Healthcare providers must be proactive in helping their patients with compassionate care and understanding the patient’s needs and values.

Non-maleficence

Non-maleficence is the principle that obligates healthcare professionals to “do no harm” to their patients. This principle guides doctors to avoid actions that could potentially cause suffering to the patient, physical or mental. Non-maleficence also extends to the practice of preventing harm. This principle ensures that the doctor’s number one priority is the patient’s safety.

Justice

The principle of justice in bioethics refers to the fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources. The principle ensures that all individuals have access to the medical treatment they need. The principle obligates healthcare providers to consider the needs of all patients regardless of background, socioeconomic status, or other factors. Justice involves making decisions about resource allocation, prioritizing treatments, and addressing healthcare disparities.

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