The Double Effect

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  • Created by: FDP2
  • Created on: 26-11-20 19:18
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  • The Double Effect
    • "good is to be done and pursued and evil is to be avoided."
    • KILLING YOUR ASSAILENT: Good = saving your own life. Bad = killing your assailant.
      • There is always two consequences to any action: a good one and a bad one.
      • the defence must be proportional - don't use unnecessary violence as that would be unlawful.
    • Situation: A terminally ill patient's death is brought about sooner through increasing doses of morphine to control his pain.
      • The Nature of the Act:
        • The morality of the action must be good
          • The act of giving morphine relieves their pain, so the morality of the act is good.
        • The act of giving morphine relieves their pain, so the morality of the act is good.
      • The means-end:
        • The bad effect must not be the means by which the good effect is achieved
        • The bad effect (the earlier the death of the patient) is not the means by which the good effect (relief of pain) is achieved. The good effect is achieved by giving them morphine for the pain; it is not achieved by ending their life.
          • The bad effect must not be the means by which the good effect is achieved
      • The Good Intention:
        • The intention must be only to achieve the good effect (the bad must only to be an unintended side-effect.
        • The doctor's intention is only to relieve the patient's pain. The fact that the patient dies sooner is an unintended side-effect.
          • The intention must be only to achieve the good effect (the bad must only to be an unintended side-effect.
      • The Proportionality:
        • The good effect must be at least equivalent in importance to the bad effect.
    • Four Conditions of The Double Effect
      • 1) The Nature of the Act = The morality of the action must be good.
      • 2) The mans-end = The bad effect must not be the means by which the good effect is achieved; the bad effect is not how you brought about the good effect.
      • 3) The Good Intention = The intention must only believe to achieve the good effect.
      • 4) The Proportionality= The good effect must be at least equivalent in importance to the bad effect.

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