Beneficence and Non-

maleficence
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, you are expected
to:

1. identity the principle and implications

of beneficence to education.
Objectives:

2. enumerate the principle and implications

of non-maleficence to education.
Nature and Meaning
The Principle of Beneficence

The term “beneficence” comes from the Latin

word “bonum” which means good. This principle
is inherent to human nature which is ordered to
goodness and truth.
 The Principle of Beneficence

It provides that good must be done to oneself

and to others. It binds every one to do what is
good and aim for what is good for oneself and for
others as a moral obligation.
 The principle of beneficence can practically be applied
in the field of education by means of the following ethical
provisions:

✓Preservation, protection, and promotion of quality life

through healthy cultivation of intelligence. Formation of
characters, and enrichment of skills towards human
development.
✓Recognition of human dignity, uniqueness, and
preciousness of individual learners.

✓Respect for human rights, academic freedom, and

confidentiality.
✓ Provision of safety and security consisting of
physical, social, intellectual, psycho-emotional,
moral and spiritual well-being of the learners.

✓Conscientious observance of the “Standard of

Care” at all times Working for the total human
growth of learners.
The given implications are genuinely in observance of the
principle of beneficence provided they are in agreement
with the dictates of right reason, human nature and God’s
Eternal law.
Case Example:
Despite the fact that as a consequence, she
will be situated far from her children, Mrs. Damasco
accepts her new teaching assignment in a far-flung
barangay in her intention to be of service to the
community and to the numerous pupils who are in need
of a teacher. The teacher does her duty with all
dedication and commitment contributing to the human
development of the pupils in particular and of the said
community in general.
Analysis:
Giving up her time for her children during
weekdays for the sake of service with all
dedication and commitment is not just
ordinarily good but also a great act of self-
sacrifice on the part of the teacher. It is closely
in line with the principle of beneficence.
 The Principle of Non-maleficence
The term “maleficence” comes from the Latin word “mala”
which means bad or evil. This principle inherent to human
nature which is ordered to the avoidance of what is evil.
Harm must not be inflicted upon oneself and others. This
principle mandates everyone to avoid evil as a moral
obligation

The doctrine of avoiding harm stems from the principle of

human dignity. “The dignity of man is the dignity of the
image of God.”
 The Principle of Non-maleficence
Being an image of God, “every man has an absolute and
transcendent value because the Author of human nature
gave him an immoral soul” By his human dignity as an
image of God, man is the “master of himself” who, in his
freedom, is able to take responsibility for his actions and
work toward his destiny which must ultimately be his
Creator, God.
 The Principle of Non-maleficence

Anything that harms the person and his human dignity in

all the aspects of his existence is a lucid transgression of
the principle of non-maleficence, it includes physical,
intellectual, economic, social, psychological, moral, and
spiritual aspects that should not be subjected to harmful
experience.
 Implications to Education
✓Prevention of corporal punishment and other practices
injurious to professional relationships

✓Avoidance of exposing anyone to any form of harm and

injury consisting of physical. Social, intellectual psycho-
emotional, moral, and spiritual damages.
 Implications to Education
✓Preclusion of unreasonable disclosure of information
which ought to be held confidential particularly about
personal circumstances and individual school records

✓Safeguarding the welfare and dignity of students, of

teachers and of the profession from any form of
unbecoming engagement: scandals particularly those
involving illicit affairs and premarital/extramarital sexual
relationships and others.
 Implications to Education
✓Protection of the professional relationship from any form of
corruption or any act that will deviate from that for which the
said relationship exists. This necessarily includes prohibition of
any affair or relationship other than what is professional

✓Exclusion of unnecessary actions and/or dangerous research

procedures that may otherwise place either the educators or the
learners al risk without commensurate and Important goals.
 Implications to Education
✓Protection of everyone form any form of infringement of
human rights and academic freedom and from any attempt
to tarnish one’s honor and reputation.

✓Inflicting undue harm, pain and risks runs counter to the

dictates of right reason, human dignity, and ultimately,
God’s Eternal Law.
Example:

After class hours, Mr. Castro, a college

instructor, gets out of the university and enters
a bar to unwind and drink alcohol Enjoying the
night, Mr. Castro drinks more bottles and soon
get extremely drunk He goes home very late,
inebriated and vomiting.
Example:

He goes to sleep without preparing his lesson

for the following day, he wakes up late and
rushes to school out of breath so as to reach his
fist hour class. Along the course of the class
discussion, a student asks a relevant and
essential question. As he is not prepared. Mr.
Castro gives an erroneous piece of information
to the student and to the whole class.
Analysis:
Getting extremely drunk with all the accompanying
socially inappropriate behavior may be detrimental not
only to Mr. Castro’s health but also to his reputation as a
college educator, in particular, and to his colleagues and
school, in general. It may be scandalous to the sensibility
of the people who view the teaching profession as a noble
and respectable one.
Analysis:
Moreover, the giving of erroneous information is plainly
Inimical to the student’s formative potentials, left
uncorrected, the wrong information might linger in the minds
of students and create damage not only in their lives but also
in the lives of others with whom they will share the wrong
information. The given scenario is incompatible with the
principle of non-maleficence.
 Analysis:
The provisions of both the principles of beneficence and non-
maleficence can be summarized in terms of “doing what is good
and avoiding what is evil as intrinsically inscribed within the heart
of man

Both the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence advocate

high regard and respect for human dignity, Practically, the two
principles go together in the field of education. There is a need to
do good by engaging in a kind of service that entails true self
giving so that no harm may be inflicted on one another.
Thank
you!!!