Harmbased

Harmbased is a term used in ethics and risk management to describe a framework or approach that prioritizes the prevention or reduction of harm as the primary criterion for evaluating actions, policies, technologies, or interventions. In harmbased thinking, potential harms are identified, assessed, and weighed against expected benefits, with the aim of minimizing net harm.

The term is not tied to a single formal doctrine but to a family of practices and arguments that place harm prevention at the center of decision making, often in contrast to benefit-based or rights-based frameworks. Proponents argue that focusing on harm can better protect vulnerable populations and reduce negative externalities, while still allowing for beneficial outcomes when harms can be mitigated.

Principles commonly associated with harmbased reasoning include explicit harm assessment, proportionality (the level of permitted risk should align with the goal), precaution in the face of uncertainty, transparency about risks, accountability for negative outcomes, and ongoing re-evaluation as new harms or evidence emerge.

Applications of harmbased thinking appear in medical research ethics, where risk-benefit analysis informs consent and study design; in artificial intelligence and data governance, where safety, privacy, and bias minimization guide development and deployment; and in public policy and disaster planning, where safeguards are designed to reduce potential societal harms.

Critics argue that defining harm is inherently context-dependent and subjective, and that an exclusive focus on harm can overlook potential benefits, justice considerations, or innovation. To address these concerns, harmbased approaches are often combined with other ethical lenses to balance protection with opportunity.

See also: harm principle, risk assessment, ethics of technology, precautionary principle, utilitarianism.