Question

What is the Doctrine of Double Effect? What sorts of moral problems is this principle designed to help solve? What must be considered under this view to decide whether an action is morally permissible? How does this view differ from act utility? Give one example of a moral judgment about a case that uses the doctrine of double effect to show why the act is moral or immoral. Take the example from the text, the video, or class lectures.

Answer 1

1. The doctrine of double effect states that if a morally good action has a morally bad side-effect, it can still be considered ethical as long the bad side-effect remains unintentional.

2. This doctrine is often employed in medical settings. The principle is used to justify the case where a doctor gives medication to a patient to relieve distressing symptoms even though she knows doing this may cause side-effects.

3. In order to ensure that an act is considered morally permissible, the following factors should be taken into account:

• The good result must be achieved independently of the bad one
• The action must be proportional to the cause
• The action must be appropriate

4. This rule is different from act utility because it does not focus on maximising good for the largest number of individuals. It focuses on how an act impacts an individual.

Please post the other questions separately as we are supposed to answer just one question or four sub parts of a question.