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..
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