The principles of medical ethics and their application to Mexican-American elderly patients.

Within the vigor of the American medical ethical dialogue, awareness that the principles of respect for autonomy, beneficence, and justice may reflect some cultural bias that, in effect, may not be applicable to Americans of all ethnicities is growing. This bias raises the question about what happens when these three ethical principles are applied in clinical situations involving elderly Mexican-American patients. Four case studies based on actual patient encounters are presented to show the manner in which ethical principles may apply for Mexican-American patients and to generate discussion by presenting evidence that indicates that the fundamental ethical principle that Mexican-American elders expect will be applied by their physicians is beneficence, and not respect for self-determination.