What is the Double Effect Doctrine?
The Doctrine of Double Effect (DDE) holds that intentionally and directly causing harm as a means of accomplishing a positive outcome is morally distinct from intentionally and directly bringing about the positive outcome while knowingly causing the same harm as an undesired side effect. Whether one may permissibly bring about such undesired effects depends upon whether they are outweighed by other, desired effects. Such weighing or balancing of effects, however, occurs only after we ascertain that no harm is actually intended. Consider the following example. Oceania is at war with Eurasia. To help win the war, Oceania decides to bomb a critical munitions plant in Eurasia. The Oceania official who makes this decision knows that there are always three civilians inside the munitions plant. He wishes the civilians were not there, but there is no way to warn them or otherwise evacuate the plant without alerting the enemy to activate its air defenses. The Oceania official bombs the plant, a
