Letter
Deceiving patients
Ends never justify means
Cite this as:
BMJ
2007;334:1072.3
- Timothy S Hinks, academic clinical fellow, respiratory medicine
- Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester DT1 2JY
- thinks{at}doctors.org.uk
The world has long known, and feared, the fallacy of consequentialism—claiming that ends can justify means— because ends simply cannot be predicted. We can never foresee the ultimate consequences of our actions.
In this world of increasing public scrutiny, it is beyond naivety to …
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