Beneficence: the moral status of treatment through humanitarian actions

Abstract

Crowdfunding for medical purposes, which involves the collection of funds from a large number of donors through a public appeal mainly through Internet platforms, is a growing phenomenon worldwide. Medical treatment is by far the most important purpose to which donors in Serbia dedicate their resources. This article focuses on the issue of moral behaviour in the context of medical crowdfunding. It analyses the beneficence principle from the perspective of core ethical theories - utilitarianism, Kantian deontology, and virtue ethics. It then discusses whether the support for treatment is in the realm of duty of charity or duty of justice. It is argued that health needs are morally important, and that society has an obligation to provide health care to guarantee equal opportunities. The appearance of the crowdfunding for medical treatments indicates the shortcomings of the health system, and that the collective duties of justice are not fulfilled. In the absence of a health system that meets the needs of all members of a society, medical crowdfunding can be seen as a potentially justifiable attempt to correct it, as it offers the opportunity for the fulfilment of individual obligations of beneficence. The article argues that it is necessary and morally desirable to act on two apparently opposing tracks - to donate money for medical treatments, while at the same time advocating for the health care system in which treatment will be a guaranteed right, and not a matter of fellow citizens? willingness to fulfil their moral obligation.