Question

Sara Altschule, has surgery after her genetic testing results suggested that she was at high risk for breast cancer. The following statements pair a principle of biomedical ethics with a statement about Ms. Altschule's situation. Please identify all of the correct pairings [there may be more than one best answer].

Principle of Autonomy: Sara Altschule, as an informed, competent adult, decided to have a preventative, double mastectomy, and as such, that decision should be respected

Principle of Beneficence: A physician notes that information provided by a genetic test can be harmful to the person tested and her family

Principle of Non-Maleficence: Despite surgery being immediately harmful to Ms Altschule (cutting skin and other tissues, causing bleeding, etc), the overall reduction of chances for aggressive cancer suggests that surgery reduces harms to Sara Altschule's health in the long term.

Principle of Justice: Early preventative action like the one taken by Ms. Altschule and her health care team can leave more resources free for other people who may get sick later

Principle of Non-Maleficence: since Ms. Altschule's decision to have a double-mastectomy may negatively impact any children she has later, the surgeon has an ethical responsibility to NOT perform the surgery

Principle of Beneficence: Having a double mastectomy now will improve Ms Altschule's potential lifespan and quality of life

Answer 1

Principle of Autonomy: Sara Altschule, as an informed, competent adult, decided to have a preventative, double mastectomy, and as such, that decision should be respected

Principle of Beneficence: A physician notes that information provided by a genetic test can be harmful to the person tested and her family

Principle of Non-Maleficence: Despite surgery being immediately harmful to Ms Altschule (cutting skin and other tissues, causing bleeding, etc), the overall reduction of chances for aggressive cancer suggests that surgery reduces harms to Sara Altschule's health in the long term.

Principle of Beneficence: Having a double mastectomy now will improve Ms Altschule's potential lifespan and quality of life

These all are correctly paired ithink