Parenting Ethics: Do No Harm, Do Good

In the medical community "nonmaleficence" is the ethical obligation not to inflict harm.  In medical ethics, the physician's guiding maxim is “First, do no harm.”

The opposite is beneficence (do good); provide benefits to persons and contribute to their welfare. Refers to an action done for the benefit of others.

"Nonmaleficence means non-harming or inflicting the least harm possible to reach a beneficial outcome. Harm and its effects are considerations and part of the ethical decision-making process ..."

Clearly, parenting should come with the same sort of ethical guidance.  A parents first obligation to their children is to inflict no harm; or at least to inflict the least amount of harm possible to reach the beneficial outcome.

1) Nonmaleficence - do no harm
2) Beneficence - do good

Evidence-Based Parenting

The research on parenting provides a reasonably clear set of guidelines on what is harmful and what is helpful.

Evidence-based parenting is the most effective approach.

Do the leg work.  Do the research.   

The Multifaceted Nature of Poverty: Unpacking Its Core Causes

 The Multifaceted Nature of Poverty: Unpacking Its Core Causes 1. Executive Summary Poverty, a persistent global challenge, extends far beyo...