The current state that society finds itself in is that of postmodernity. Postmodernism frequently clashes with established philosophical and ethical narratives, however, there is an exception in the world of bioethics – principlism. This paradigm gives new dimensions to the established frameworks, broadening the limits of ethical decision-making in the field. This reflection assignment will focus on the synergy of principlism on the postmodernist approach in bioethics.
Postmodernism is engrained in the liberal society, which puts a priority on individual autonomy and choice. It is a worldview that is deeply suspicious of metanarratives, which attempt to impose one viewpoint on the construction of reality (McGrath 518). Thus, postmodernism is an approach that challenges established philosophical and ethical frameworks and encourages moral and ethical independence. One of these ethical frameworks is the concept of principlism. Prinsipalism refers to the framework of four basic bioethical principles, including respect for autonomy, justice, nonmaleficence, and beneficence (McGrath 516). Bioethics, in turn, considers any ethical and moral issues that are related to biomedicine and medical research (McGrath 516). Therefore, prinsipalism is one of the main frameworks that medical professionals use in order to make ethical decisions. While postmodernism is usually found to be at odds with established narratives, it shares values with principlist ethics. An example of this can be found in modern hospices, where patients are given a choice in end-of-life decisions (McGrath 527). As a result, the postmodernist ideal of personal freedom and the principlist value of autonomy work together.
In terms of a broader impact, the postmodern idea applied to bioethics gives medical professionals more dimensions for decision-making. They can apply individual criteria in order to determine the best course of action. At the same time, the postmodern view undermines the universal and established framework, which can lead to the lack of means for proper evaluation and analysis. A postmodern framework will allow professionals to make more appropriate decisions. However, it will also limit the ability to establish universal ethical standards, which can be a threat to the whole structure. One future idea related to the discussed one is universal consent for all medical procedures and research participation. People will be able to take responsibility for their own lives, relieving professionals of the burden of making ethical decisions.
Work Cited
McGrath, Pam. “Autonomy, Discourse, and Power: A Postmodern Reflection on Principlism and Bioethics” Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, vol. 23, no. 5, 1998, pp. 516-532