The “Four Principles” of Western Medical Bioethics and the Bioethics of Shīʿī Islam in Iran—Is the Claim of Universality by Both Justified?

The four principles of Western medical bioethics, i.e., autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence and justice, published by Beauchamps Childress in their seminal ‘Principles Biomedical Ethics’, are understood as universal. However, Non-Western governments argue that they refer to cultural contexts, neglecting specifics Non-Western, for instance Islamic, civilizations. This paper addresses the claim bioethical universality both West’s Iran’s Shīʿī Islamic bioethics. We describe historical development normative sources common morality, ontogeny human morality Shī’ī religious foundation. Both concepts support nonmaleficence justice yet diverge with respect beneficence, autonomy justification. Iranian screening program ß-thalassemia major exemplifies differences concepts. conclude universal moral rules based on morality. Beneficence can be characterized a ideal. In contrast, appreciated West, is neither justified nor has no equivalent more communitarian-oriented societies. It thus fails quality norm.