The meaning and application of the principle of beneficence to issues in health care is rarely clear or certain. Although the principle is frequently employed to justify a variety of actions and inactions, very little has been done from a conceptual point of view to test its relevance to these behaviors or to explore its relationship to other moral principles that also might be called upon to guide or justify conduct. Perhaps more than any other, the principle of benef­ icence seems particularly appropriate to contexts of health care in which two or more parties interact from positions of relative strength and weakness, advantage and need, to pursue some perceived goal. It is among those moral principles that Tom L. Beauchamp and James F. Childress selected in their textbook on bioethics as applicable to biomedicine in general and relevant to a range of specific issues ([1], pp. 135-167). More narrowly, The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behav­ ioral Research identified beneficence as among those moral principles that have particular relevance to the conduct of research involving humans (2). Thus, the principle of beneficence is seen as pertinent to the routine delivery of health care, the discovery of new therapies, and the rationale of public policies related to health care.

Product Description: Christian Faith, Justice, and a Politics of Mercy: The Benevolent Community assumes that the most profound moral conflict today is between two virtues—justice and mercy. Gilman argues that the two are organically linked through the common experience of compassion...read more

A psychoanalyst, a professor of comparative literature, a social historian, and the director of the New York Civil Liberties Union analyze and criticize social-policy responses to the needs of such dependent individuals as the handicapped, children, and the elderly

The recipient of Oprah's Angel Network Award for his philanthropic accomplishments, a twenty-one-year-old entrepreneur of altruism explains how anyone can achieve personal fulfillment by committing themselves to help others. Read by Danny Seo. Simultaneous.

Is there a limit to the legitimate demands of morality? In particular, is there a limit to people's responsibility to promote the well-being of others, either directly or via social institutions? Utilitarianism admits no such limit, and is for that reason often said to be an unacceptably demanding moral and political view. In this original new study, Murphy argues that the charge of excessive demands amounts to little more than an affirmation of the status quo. The real problem with utilitarianism is that it makes unfair demands on people who comply with it in our world of nonideal compliance. Murphy shows that this unfairness does not arise on a collective understanding of our responsibility for others' well being. Thus, according to Murphy, while there is no general problem to be raised about the extent of moral demands, there is a pressing need to acknowledge the collective nature of the demands of beneficence. (view table of contents)

Creating abundance in your home, at work, and in your community This book will inspire you. You’ll realize the best way to find happiness is to give happiness. You’ll discover the more you give, the more you have. You’ll see that giving can make our world a more peaceful, harmonious and productive place. The Power of Giving shows that each of us has many gifts to share — time, love, kindness, – even if you don’t have money. You’ll find where your own giving can have the greatest impact. You’ll learn to help children give in the ways that are most meaningful to them. The more they give, the more they will tap into their creativity, innovation and potential. Best-selling authors Azim Jamal (Seven Steps to Lasting Happiness) and Harvey McKinnon (Hidden Gold) have written a profound guide to help give you the power to create abundance — in the lives of others and in your own life as well. The Power of Giving is a must read for anyone seeking an abundant and richer life. All profits from this book will be donated to charities and to promote giving.

Can Christians be civil in a world falling apart? In these wild and diverse times, prolifers square off against prochoicers, gay liberationists confront champions of the traditional family, husbands and wives face each other in court, artists attack legislators, and "politically correct" intellectuals abhor crusading fundamentalists. Philosopher and ethicist Richard Mouw is concerned that, too often, Christians seem to be contributing more to the problem than to the solution. But he recognizes--from his own personal struggle--that it's not easy to hold to Christian convictions and treat sometimes vindictive opponents with civility and decency. Few if any people in the evangelical world have dialogued as widely and sensitively as Mouw. So few can write more wisely or helpfully about what Christians can appreciate about pluralism, the theological basis for civility, and how we can communicate with people who disagree with us on the issues that matter most.