A reasoning approach towards Ethics-Based Medicine and care of disabled people


This paper introduces a reasoning approach supporting Ethics-Based Medicine. In contrast with Evidence-Based Medicine, Values-Based Medicine and Evidence-Based Ethics, our proposal is neither to limit the clinical decisions to normative medicine, patient perception or normative ethics but to strengthen the balance between philosophy and science. This is a conceptual approach of reasoning to cope with different points of view (patient, family, caregivers, society). The reasoning provides a decision that has a good chance to maximize the support of the care and ethical objectives while minimizing the risks. The resolution provides a balanced decision by using different proposals and by merging various methods. The decision is associated with qualitative and quantitative information dealing with the care and ethics. A clinical case of a disabled child illustrates the ethical reasoning.