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Doctrine of double effect
The doctrine of double effect says an action with a good aim can be acceptable even if it has a harmful side effect that was foreseen but not intended.
Summary
- The usual example is giving a dying patient enough morphine to control their pain, knowing it may also shorten their life.
- The intention has to be the good effect, and the harm must not be the way that effect is achieved.
- The good has to be in proportion to the harm.
- It is the reasoning that separates relieving pain at the end of life from deliberately ending it.
Interview questions
- What is the doctrine of double effect?
- Is there a moral difference between relieving pain and hastening death?
- How could anyone know what a doctor intended?
Practise answering these with a mentor
Our interview preparation has you answer questions like these out loud, with feedback on each answer.
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