Assumptions and practice in clinical medical ethics

An orderly scheme of action is proposed to allow for the practical solution of clinical ethical problems. This scheme depends on understanding and discussion, between patient and doctor, of the ethical assumptions involved in any dilemma. Instead of the more usual ethical principles, arguments are presented for six basic ethical assumptions (and their associated corollaries) in favour of Life, Autonomy, Beneficence, Equity, Truth, and Law. Because these assumptions are dependent on the different personal viewpoints of the people involved and not immutable principles, such ethical assumptions are able to be set in different hierachical orders on different occasions permitting in most cases a particular solution specific for that dilemma.