Hypothetical approval in prudence and medicine

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Moral Philosophy
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• The legitimacy of actions is often assumed to be enhanced by hypothetical approval under ideal conditions.
• This assumption, however, can lead to significant ethical problems when ideal preferences diverge from actual ones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate that relying on hypothetical consent can generate ethical issues.
• To explore these issues within the domains of prudence, euthanasia, and coercive psychiatric treatment.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of ethical principles related to preferences and consent.
• Examination of conflicts between actual and rational preferences in specific case areas.

Main Results:

• Difficulties arise when an individual's actual preferences conflict with their informed and rational preferences.
• In prudential contexts, the value of satisfying non-actual preferences is questioned.
• In euthanasia and coercive care, the moral permissibility of actions based on hypothetical consent is challenged.

Conclusions:

• There is no simple solution to the ethical problems posed by conflicting preferences.
• The paper aims to clarify the complexities involved, paving the way for better decision-making in difficult ethical cases.