Ethics Discussion #1: Primary Ethical Principles, Autonomy

Primary Ethical Principles
The primary or basic ethical principles are the general judgments and values that serve as a justification for particular ethical prescriptions and evaluations of human actions. There are four principles: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. These principles are being applied by medical practitioners or anyone whose work involves the healthcare of other people when evaluating the merits and difficulties of medical procedures.
Autonomy
Autonomy is a derivative of the Greek words auto which means "self" and nomos which means "rule". This principle simply means that healthcare providers should respect the right of their patients to choose or refuse treatment. They have the right to control what happens to their bodies.
Example: A patient with an obvious cancerous mole on the face is advised by a physician to undergo surgery in order to prevent future complications that might be caused by the mole. The patient refuses because she thinks it is lucky. The healthcare provider respects that decision.
Beneficence
Beneficence means that the physician must promot...