The ethical value that comes from doing good.

A set of principles and values that govern behavior to accord with a notion of morality. See especially deontological ethics, teleological ethics and utilitarian ethics, and also see autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and suffering. The ethics of assisted reproductive technology, collaborative reproduction, the doctor-patient relationship, informed consent and human embryo research are much debated.

The prevention from and alleviation of personal suffering by a patient is the physician's ultimate duty and the principal purpose of the professional practice of medicine. The suffering can be physical or mental. The ethical values of beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and equity, for many thoughtful physicians, become subordinate to the duty of making the patient better. For the infertile couple, prevention from or relief of suffering most obviously means the physician helping them to have a baby; this is not always possible, however, in which case other medical and personal strategies need to be explored if the suffering is to be lessened.