PHI2600
Evaluating Annette Baier’s Argument in “Trust, Suffering, and the
Aesculapian Virtues”
In “Trust, Suffering, and the Aesculapian Virtues,” Annette C. Baier examines
the moral responsibilities of physicians, especially in cases of serious
suffering and requests for euthanasia. She focuses on the role of trust in the
doctor–patient relationship and argues that medicine must address not only
the preservation of life but also the relief of suffering. Baier challenges the
traditional view that prolonging life is always the highest goal of medical
practice. Instead, she claims that compassion and respect for autonomy
sometimes require a different response. Baier argues that physicians may be
morally justified in assisting death in cases of unbearable suffering, and I will
defend her view against the strong objection that it risks abuse and social
pressure on vulnerable patients.
Part I
Baier begins by defining trust as the acceptance of vulnerability to another
person’s power with confidence that this power will not be used to harm. In
the medical context, patients place themselves in the hands of physicians.
They are weak, afraid, and dependent. This creates a serious imbalance of
power. Because of this imbalance, physicians must possess special moral
qualities. Baier calls these the Aesculapian virtues. These include
competence, honest communication, awareness of power differences, and
proper timing in decision making.
Baier argues that the traditional goal of medicine has been life prolongation.
However, she believes this focus is too narrow. Healing should include relief
of suffering, not only cure of disease. A physician who only tries to extend life
while ignoring intense pain fails to meet the moral demands of the
profession. Baier supports this claim by describing personal experiences of
severe suffering that was not properly relieved. In these cases, doctors
