A Selfless Art

‘To highlight the ethical component of their reflection process, participants can methodically organise their deliberations by referring to four internationally recognised standards of biomedical ethics: respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. These key principles set ethical guidelines for the discussion, recalling the fundamental moral expectations of all human beings. The formalisation of ethical principles was the work of Tom Beauchamp and John Childress, two contemporary American philosophers who, in 1979, published what remains today the ‘bible’ of medical ethics: Principles of Biomedical Ethics.’ (my translation)

‘Pour faire ressortir la composante éthique de leur démarche de réflexion, les participants peuvent ordonner méthodologiquement leur délibération en faisant appel à quatre standards de l’éthique biomédicale reconnus à l’échelle internationale : respect de l’autonomie, bienfaisance, non-malfaisance, justice. Ces grands principes posent des jalons éthiques à la discussion, en rappelant les attentes morales fondamentales de tout être humain. La formalisation des principes de l’éthique a été l’œuvre de Tom Beauchamp et John Childress, deux philosophes américains contemporains qui ont publié, en 1979, ce qui demeure aujourd’hui la « bible » de l’éthique médicale : Principles of Biomedical Ethics.’

Coz, P. 2018, L’Éthique médicale: Approches philosophiques, PUP

Defining the terms

Medical ethics have provided a rich ground for my thinking about the ethical basis of community arts work, especially when it is funded on the basis of some imagined social outcome. We could learn a lot from the four pillars that underpin that thinking. These short definitions The are taken from The Medic Portal.

Autonomy

Patient autonomy is a fundamental principle in medicine that recognizes the rights of patients to make decisions about their own healthcare. It emphasizes that individuals have the ultimate authority to determine what happens to their bodies and to participate in the decision-making process regarding their treatment options.

Beneficence

Beneficence is a core principle in medical ethics that guides practitioners to act as they believe is in the best interest of the patient. Unlike non-maleficence, it goes beyond simply doing no harm and encourages to actively help others.

Non-Maleficence

Non-maleficence is a core principle of medical ethics stating that a physician has a duty to ‘do no harm’ to a patient. It directs a medical professional to consider the benefits of all procedures and weigh them against the potential risks and burdens on the patient.

Justice

Justice – in the context of medical ethics – is the principle that when weighing up if something is ethical or not, we have to think about whether it’s compatible with the law, the patient’s rights, and if it’s fair and balanced. It also means that we must ensure no one is unfairly disadvantaged when it comes to access to healthcare. Justice is one reason why the NHS has certain entitlements, such as free prescriptions for lower-income individuals.

Not all of this applies directly to co-creation and community arts but I’m thinking hard about what does.