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How do non maleficence and beneficence differ, and why are they important in health care?

How do non maleficence and beneficence differ, and why are they important in health care?

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Maleficence refers to doing actions which are harmful for others. Non-maleficence refers to actions which do not cause any harm to others.

Beneficence refers to doing actions which are beneficial for others.

Hence, the principal behind 'beneficence' is 'do good', while the principle behind 'non-maleficence' is 'do no harm'. These two are the underlying principles of ethics in healthcare, and a practitioner in the field of medecine is always faced with the dilemna to choose between beneficence and non-maleficence. The type of relationship between the patient and the doctor dictates which principle is applied. Also, the patient's ability to take his/her own decisions, i.e. his/her autonomy, will also determine which principle is applied. For example: A patient might not want to undergo a painful treatment, however, the doctor feels it necessary in order to prevent the infection from spreading in the future. Hence, doctor's premise is based on beneficence, whereas, the patient's premise is based on non-maleficence.

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