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principle of double effect
principle of double effect An ethics principle used to judge whether an act aimed at a beneficial goal can still be morally allowed when the person foresees it will also cause harm.
An ethics principle used to judge whether an act aimed at a beneficial goal can still be morally allowed when the person foresees it will also cause harm. It permits such an act only when the act itself is not inherently wrong, the harm is not the aim, the benefit does not come from the harm, and the expected benefit is substantial enough to justify the harmful side effect.