However, beneficence is also one of the four principles of health care ethics, and it states that “health care providers must do all they can to benefit the patient in each situation” (Saint Joseph’s University, 2017). In an end-of-life healthcare decision, this obviously presents a complex ethical dilemma because each healthcare treatment option supports a different principle of health care ethics. If a patient is allowed to die peacefully, the doctor could be practicing non-maleficence while neglecting beneficence. However, if the physician performs an extraordinary attempt to save the patient’s life, the physician could be practicing beneficence while neglecting
However, beneficence is also one of the four principles of health care ethics, and it states that “health care providers must do all they can to benefit the patient in each situation” (Saint Joseph’s University, 2017). In an end-of-life healthcare decision, this obviously presents a complex ethical dilemma because each healthcare treatment option supports a different principle of health care ethics. If a patient is allowed to die peacefully, the doctor could be practicing non-maleficence while neglecting beneficence. However, if the physician performs an extraordinary attempt to save the patient’s life, the physician could be practicing beneficence while neglecting