Reviewing Ethics and Common Controversies in Medicine Part of
the Medical Ethics For Dummies Cheat Sheet Ethical principles
are fine in theory, but putting them into practice is more
difficult. Every situation is different, and ethical issues in
medicine should be approached on a case-by-case basis. These are
some common controversies, and how principles of medical ethics
are applied to help solve them. Abortion: Autonomy and
nonmaleficence come into conflict in this issue. How much right
does a woman have over her body, and how does that right balance
with the rights of the fetus? Are there some cases when a
therapeutic abortion is ethically mandated? Physician-assisted
suicide: If we respect autonomy, can we deny a patient’s request
to die? Should doctors, traditionally committed to prolonging
life, be involved in assisted suicide? How can providers honor
the conflicting requirements of nonmaleficence, beneficence, and
autonomy at the same time with this issue? Conflicts of
interest: For informed consent an