Wednesday February 3, 2010
Ethics in Medicine - The Rule of Double Effect (RDE)


RDE stipulates that 4 conditions must be met before an act with both good and bad consequences may be morally justified.

1. The nature of the act. The act itself must not be intrinsically wrong and not be in a category that is absolutely prohibited.
2. The agent's intention. The agent must intend only the good and not the bad effect, although the bad effect, such as respiratory depression following administration of opiates, may be foreseen but not intended.
3. The distinction between means and effects. The bad effect, such as death, must not be the means used to bring about the good effect, such as the relief of suffering.
4. Proportionality between the good effect and the bad effect. An action is undertaken for a proportionally grave reason for permitting the foreseen bad effect.