Almond B
University of Hull.
J Med Ethics. 1988 Dec;14(4):173-8. doi: 10.1136/jme.14.4.173.
There is a need to bring ethics and medical practice closer together, despite the risk and problems this may involve. Deontological ethics may promote sanctity of life considerations against the quality of life considerations favoured by consequentialists or utilitarians; while talk of respect for life and the value of life may point to more qualified ethical positions. This paper argues for a respect-for-life position, dismissing a utilitarian cost-benefit outlook as too simplistic; but an unqualified fixed principles approach is also ruled out, both because of its unacceptable consequences in individual cases and also because of its reliance on the slippery slope argument which, it is argued, is logically and psychologically deficient. The case of genetic engineering provides an example in which the notion of respect may operate, but in which broad general principles also apply. A cautious conservatism towards accepted principles is recommended in the development of medical technologies.
尽管这可能会带来风险和问题，但仍有必要使伦理与医疗实践更加紧密地结合起来。道义论伦理学可能会促进对生命神圣性的考量，以对抗结果论者或功利主义者所青睐的对生活质量的考量；而对生命的尊重和生命价值的讨论可能指向更具限定性的伦理立场。本文主张一种尊重生命的立场，摒弃功利主义的成本效益观，认为其过于简单化；但也排除了无条件的固定原则方法，这既是因为它在个别情况下会产生不可接受的后果，也是因为它依赖滑坡论证，而滑坡论证在逻辑和心理上都存在缺陷。基因工程的案例提供了一个例子，其中尊重的概念可能适用，但广泛的一般原则也同样适用。在医疗技术的发展中，建议对公认的原则持谨慎的保守态度。
