Ranking Biomedical Ethics Principles

Ranking Biomedical Ethics Principles

The four principles of biomedical ethics, especially in the context of bioethics in the United States, have often been critiqued for raising the principle of autonomy to the highest place, such that it trumps all other principles or values. Based on your worldview, how do you rank the importance of each of the four principles in order to protect the health and safety of diverse populations?

Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to the “Discussion Question Rubric” and “Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
This assignment aligns with AACN Core Competencies: 3.1

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Ranking Biomedical Ethics Principles

The four principles of biomedical ethics—autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice—are foundational in healthcare decision-making. However, their application varies based on context, cultural values, and individual worldviews. From my perspective, the principles are ranked as follows to best protect the health and safety of diverse populations:

1. Justice
   Justice is paramount in ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all populations. It addresses systemic disparities and ensures that resources are allocated fairly, particularly for marginalized communities. Without justice, the application of the other principles may disproportionately benefit some while neglecting others (Beauchamp & Childress, 2019).
2. Beneficence
   Beneficence focuses on actions that promote the well-being of patients and populations. In the context of public health, it ensures that interventions are designed to maximize positive outcomes, such as improving health literacy and providing preventative care.
3. Nonmaleficence
   Nonmaleficence, or “do no harm,” is critical in safeguarding patients from unnecessary risks and adverse outcomes. It underscores the ethical obligation to carefully weigh potential harm against benefits in treatment decisions.
4. Autonomy
   While autonomy is essential for respecting individual rights and self-determination, it must be balanced against the needs of the broader community. In cases where individual choices may harm others, such as during infectious disease outbreaks, autonomy may be appropriately limited to protect public health.

Balancing Principles

These principles should not function in isolation. Justice ensures fairness in care, beneficence and nonmaleficence prioritize patient welfare, and autonomy respects individual agency within ethical boundaries. Together, they create a holistic framework for…