Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T L Beauchamp

Publications and source records attributed to T L Beauchamp.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Ethics, scientific validity, and the design of epidemiologic studies.

Ethical conflicts between moral principles and methodologic standards sometimes occur in epidemiologic research. When dilemmas are discerned, they may be analyzed using the ethical principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and respect for the autonomy of persons. We argue that, in addition to scientific validity, the welfare and rights of research subjects should be taken into account in making decisions regarding all aspects of the design and conduct of epidemiologic studies, and that the commitment of epidemiologists to the advancement of scientific knowledge should not outweigh or override all other considerations.

Beneficence↗
PubMed1991

Ethical theory and epidemiology.

The stream of ethics questions that arise in science seems endless. These questions concern how one determines responsibilities, rights, obligations, policies, and the like. But neither a "code of ethics" nor customary practice-standards may adequately justify a moral belief. An ethical theory is sometimes necessary to make progress on our moral problems. This form of theory consists of a diverse set of ways of developing moral concepts and giving philosophical reasons that explain, augment, and criticize the rules of social morality. Moral theory provides a basis for moral reasoning about problems; this reasoning is analogous to legal reasoning, where one appears before a court with a well reasoned case in defense of one's conduct. Moral theory is no panacea for our contemporary moral concerns, but it is valuable ally in the attempt to resolve them.

Epidemiology↗
PubMed1986

Baby Jane Doe in the media.

A review of national television, magazine, and newspaper coverage of the case of Baby Jane Doe indicates that most of it lacked perspective and context; stories were generally incomplete and often imprecise; reporting was sometimes inaccurate; and overall, inadequate attention was paid to the medical, legal, philosophical, and social implications of the case. Human-interest and political elements of the story were generally well covered. Even after taking account of the pressures and constraints of daily and weekly news reporting, we conclude that the print press and television could have done a better job without devoting more space or time to the story. This could have been done by assigning reporters with greater expertise and by paying more attention to the needs of a hypothetical "reasonable reader."

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1978

The regulation of hazards and hazardous behaviors.

Risks to individuals engaged in "high risk" behaviors may be present because of the individual's own actions, as in the case of smoking. Alternatively, the risks may be present either because of factors in the environment such as carcinogens, or because of the causal actions of others, such as pollution by industries. Traditionally, justifications for policies that would control hazards and restrict hazardous behaviors have been based on paternalistic principles or on a theory of social justice. Arguments for both are criticized and rejected in favor of a third alternative rooted in utilitarian moral theory. It is argued that: (1) paternalism leads to unacceptable consequences because it would allow too much limitation of individual liberty by policy makers; (2) justice-based arguments are too abstract for public policy problems and often rest on questionable empirical assumptions; and (3) utilitarian suggestions about the use of cost-benefit analysis for the resolution of these health policy problems are more promising than available alternatives, because they provide a solid moral basis for allocating scarce resources and for controlling hazardous behaviors.

Attitude to Health↗