The four elements of the double effect principle: a) The good effect is produced directly by the action and not by the bad effect. b) The person must intend
only the good effect, even though the bad effect may be foreseen. c) The act itself must not be intrinsically wrong, or needs to be at least neutral. d) The
good effect is sufficiently desirable to compensate for allowing the bad effect.
Source: Ethics, Palliative Care, and Care at the End of Life, Schwartz's Principles of Surgery, 10e
Citation: Brunicardi F, Andersen DK, Billiar TR, Dunn DL, Hunter JG, Matthews JB, Pollock RE. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery, 10e; 2014
Available at: http://mhmedical.com/ Accessed: July 31, 2017
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