THE MORALITY OF COOPERATION

PLeaSe WATCH

The word cooperation comes from the Latin word cum which means “with” and operari which means to work.

Cooperation is working with another in the performance of an action. The action may be good or evil. However, moral problems arise only when the action is evil.

The principles we are enunciating in this chapter apply to assistance in any moral action.

However, for most practical purposes in the nursing profession, they pertain to assistance at operations.

Cooperation may be divided first of all into formal and material cooperation.

A. FORMAL COOPERATION Cooperation wills the evil,

either by an explicit act of the will or by actual sharing in the evil act itself. Those who share in an evil act sometimes say that they do so unwillingly. However, this is merely a way of saying that they are reluctant. If they were unwilling in the absolute sense of the word, they would not assist in the evil act at all. Since we are never allowed to will evil, formal cooperation in evil is always sinful.

B. MATERIAL COOPERATION The cooperator

performs an act which in itself is not wrong, though it is used by the principle agent to help him commit sin. Under certain circumstances, such cooperation would be normally permissible.

C. NORMS Formal cooperation in evil never allowed. Material cooperation in evil sometimes

allowed. Proportionate reason required for

cooperation in evil. Resolving doubts regarding cooperation.

1. FORMAL COOPERATION IN EVIL NEVER ALLOWED. The nurse, because of her training, is

schooled in obedience. She carries out quickly and without question the orders of the doctor. However, we must not forget the moral responsibility or integrity of the nurse as an individual is superior by far to the commands of any doctor.

Therefore, when the question of assistance at an immoral operation arises, it is entirely within the rights of the nurse to make a moral judgment and act in accordance with her conscience.

A nurse must never formally cooperate in immorality either by explicitly willing the evil or by directly sharing in the immoral act itself.

2. MATERIAL COOPERATION IN EVIL SOMETIMES ALLOWED. Material cooperation consists in

performing morally indifferent action which makes the operation possible. Those who cooperate materially do not perform immoral actions which are morally indifferent or good, and therefore allowable under certain circumstances.

A general rule that may be given regarding material cooperation is this: Material cooperation in an immoral operation is morally permissible when a sufficient reason exists. No medical condition is a sufficient reason for the performance of an immoral operation. Certain circumstances may exist, however, which would constitute a sufficient reason for material cooperation, for example, the fact that refusal would probably result in dismissal.

3. PROPORTIONATE REASON REQUIRED FOR COOPERATION IN EVIL.

Just what constitutes a sufficient reason will vary according to the proximity to the immoral act itself. Material cooperation may be either proximate or remote. Proximate cooperation is that which is quite intimately connected the immoral operation. Because of the very intimate connection of proximate cooperation with the evil act, a very grave reason is necessary in order that such cooperation be morally permissible. On the other hand, Remote cooperation, being less intimately connected with the evil act, is morally allowable for less reasons.

When material cooperation is habitual, a proportionately grave reason is required. An isolated instance of material cooperation in an immoral act is more easily justified than repeated acts of the same sort.

The more necessary one’s material cooperation is to the performance of the act, the graver must be the reason to justify it morally. If the withholding of once cooperation would result in the principal agent being unable to perform the action, a much graver reason would be required than if others could be easily obtained to cooperate.

4. RESOLVING DOUBTS REGARDING COOPERATION. Between the obviously serious

situations and those situations which are obviously not serious lies an entire field of situations, which are difficult to judge. It is not possible to enter a detailed discussion of all the situations which arise in this regard.

In practical cases concerning proximate and remote material cooperation in immoral operations, a moralist should be consulted in order that a proper moral judgment may be passed.

If it is impossible to consult one of them under the given circumstances, the nurse will find it necessary to use her own judgment in accordance with her conscience.

As soon as consultation is possible, a moralist should be consulted, and a definite norm of conduct arrived at to govern future situations.

Let us COOPERATE..