Beneficence and non-maleficence - Essay Example

Beneficence and Non-Maleficent Bioethics principles guide practitioners on how to behave professionally under different circumstances. Beneficence and non-maleficence are essential principles that stress on the welfare of the patients. Both principles state that patients health should come first before making any decisions. The principles are manifest and clear in their application. However, the two principles have differences in the application as discussed below.Beneficence as a bioethics principle states that medical practitioners should be of help to patients seeking their service.

Beneficent activities are conducted to eliminate any health problems. The principle stresses on the eminence of healthcare offered to patients. Practitioners should accurately diagnose the condition and then apply the adequate treatment. The principle follows the essence of healthcare that is offering health benefits to all. Sick persons enter into a relationship with practitioners in seeking health benefits since health practitioners have an obligation to assist. An example of a beneficent action is advising a lung cancer patient to stop smoking so as to reduce lung infection.

Non-maleficent is a principle that prohibits medical practitioners from causing any harm to the patients (Paola, Walker, Nixon, 2010). Possible harms are as a result of medical errors. Despite the fact that treatment errors may be unintentional, deliberate situations are also evident. Practitioners are supposed to undertake deliberate actions in ensuring that errors of omission and commission are avoided and that the patients can trust the healthcare service. In essence, practitioners should not make negligent steps that compromise the health outcomes of patients.

A case of a non-maleficent act is to stop treatment that has dire effects on the patients health or is uncertified as a safe treatment.ReferencePaola, F. A., Walker, R., & Nixon, L. L. C. (2010). Medical ethics and humanities. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.