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Physicians' duties and the non-identity problem.

Tony Hope1, John McMillan

  • 1University of Oxford.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The non-identity problem explores how changing a person's identity affects moral obligations, particularly for physicians. Physicians should refuse harmful interventions but respect patient choices when identity alteration leads to different life outcomes.

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Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Philosophy of Medicine
  • Bioethics

Background:

  • The non-identity problem concerns moral considerations when actions alter the identity of individuals.
  • Delaying pregnancy is a key example, raising questions about moral duties when future persons are affected.
  • Existing literature on the non-identity problem offers limited guidance for physicians' ethical duties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the implications of the non-identity problem for physicians' ethical decision-making.
  • To determine when physicians may ethically refuse patient requests based on identity-altering consequences.
  • To clarify physicians' duties in cases involving identity-preserving versus identity-altering interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Philosophical analysis of the non-identity problem in medical contexts.
  • Ethical reasoning applied to physician-patient interactions involving identity changes.
  • Distinction between identity-preserving and identity-altering interventions.

Main Results:

  • The non-identity problem has significant moral implications for medical practice.
  • Physicians have a moral basis to refuse interventions that harm a patient, even if identity-preserving.
  • In identity-altering scenarios, physicians should generally defer to patient autonomy regarding choices that affect future well-being.

Conclusions:

  • Physicians' duties are shaped by the non-identity problem, influencing decisions on patient requests.
  • Refusal is justified for identity-preserving interventions causing harm.
  • Respect for patient choice is paramount when interventions alter identity and affect future life quality.