Not just autonomy--the principles of American biomedical ethics.
The Principles of Biomedical Ethics by Tom L Beauchamp and James F Childress which is now in its fourth edition has had a great influence on the development of bioethics through its exposition of a theory based on the four principles: respect for autonomy; non-maleficence; beneficence, and justice (1). The theory is developed as a common-morality theory, and the present paper attempts to show how this approach, starting from American common-morality, leads to an underdevelopment of beneficence and justice, and that the methods offered for specification and balancing of principles are inadequate.
Holm
S
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Department of Medical Philosophy, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
D026686:Beneficence; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003657:Decision Making; D028663:Ethical Theory; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005610:Freedom; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D038622:Internationality; D028681:Moral Obligations; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D028662:Principle-Based Ethics; D012935:Social Justice; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012945:Social Values; D014481:United States; D028722:Virtues