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Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol (2014) 252:15231524 DOI 10.1007/s00417-014-2676-5
BOOK REVIEW
Principles of Biomedical Ethics, Seventh Edition Eds: Tom L. Beauchamp and James F. Childress Oxford University Press, 2013. XVI, 459 Pages, US$66.95, ISBN-13: 978-0-19-992458-5
Barry R. Masters
Received: 12 May 2014 /Accepted: 14 May 2014 /Published online: 29 May 2014 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
What factors influence the behavior of health-care professionals in the clinic and in the laboratory? Typically, there is a hierarchy of ideals and constraints at work. These influences can be both encouraging and restrictive; e.g. behaving in a kind, respectful, and compassionate manner encourages a specific behavior, and do no harm to others is a constraint on an individuals action.
At the apex of this hierarchy there are international codes of conduct such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, 1948. There are national and state laws, local city and town laws, professional society codes and guidelines, hospital and clinic standards of practice and rules. These regulations and guidelines are promulgated by international agencies, government agencies, professional societies, and health-care corporations. The individual health-care provider also may be guided by social and religious beliefs, cultural norms, peer pressure, and the onerous constraints of modern managed care.
It is reasonable to inquire if there are general principles of biomedical ethics that can serve as the foundation for the formulation and the implementation of the above-mentioned hierarchy of ethical guidance. These principles form the basis of ethical theories and are codified into laws, professional codes, rules, regulations, guidelines and expected norms of behavior. These principles may show local variation subject to the cultural, social, and religious norms of a particular nation, religious group, or ethnic group; nevertheless, one can discuss universal ethical principles that can serve as the foundation of biomedical ethics with the understanding and the acknowledgment of local variation around the world.
Codes of behavior have existed for thousands of years. Ancient examples include the Code of Hammurabi of 1772 BC and the Hippocratic tradition and oath of the late fifth century BC. The holy books of many religions are replete with laws, rules, and behavioral guidelines that are concerned with moral and...