Chris L@jackwilliambell @carnage4life my point, which is not that important, is the words used to construct the ethics are not absolute. Examples: alive, cause, intent, maximum good, etc. many systems of ethics seek maximums of things which are inherently multidimensional and incommensurable. Where does an ethics dedicated to not lying draw the line between omission and commission? Where ever it is there will be some infinitesimal cases where the words describing the line don’t match up to reality.
@jackwilliambell @carnage4life I read the wiki, I have never heard a bioethicist claim all decisions or advice or guidance is absolute, and my only quibble was with your word absolute. The greys in life are not ignorable but an essential feature of decision making, is what I am saying. Do no harm, but what is least harm, 10% chance of 10 year cure or most likely a year of pain but no surgery? And from time to time, life tweaks the numbers right onto ones assumed line.