Empirical Knowledge VS Religious Beliefs: The Conflict of Ethical Pillars


I initially researched embryonic stem cells, and although this is an ethical dilemma within the medical community, it centered on research not focusing on the relationship between doctor and patient. I initially switched my topic to Malpractice and Negligence, which is improper or illegal professional activity or treatment typically from a medical practitioner. Biomedical ethics tend to align with the law, but ethical principles and medical liability conflict in some instances. When researching this topic, I found difficulty finding definitive sides to this issue. Some problems stem from malpractice, but there's ambiguity surrounding the argument. The most explicit side I could distinguish is intentional and accidental cases, so some believe in enforcing deliberate but not accidental claims. However, this issue varies based on the severity of the case to provide justice for the patient without disenfranchising hospitals. The topic I decided upon was the debate on empirical knowledge versus religious beliefs. I am leaning toward following religious beliefs to protect the patient's autonomy and choice while receiving treatment. Four ethical pillars are involved in this issue: autonomy, justice, beneficence, and non-maleficence. The pillars that come in conflict with this issue are autonomy and beneficence. In most cases, one gets compromised to protect the other. I enjoyed attending the library writing session to understand how to research effectively, find credible sources to support my topic, and ensure I build a cohesive argument.


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