harmssuch
Harmssuch is a neologism in ethics and risk analysis describing a class of harm that is intrinsic or inextricable from a process or outcome and cannot be fully avoided even with best practices. The term emphasizes that certain harmful effects are built into the design or execution of actions rather than being merely incidental.
The word harmssuch is formed from the components harm and such to stress the characteristic nature of
Conceptual scope includes systemic harms that affect large groups, irreversible harms, or harms that arise as
Examples appear across domains. In public policy, deploying infrastructure can produce environmental degradation that is difficult
Criticism and discussion note that harmssuch may be too vague without criteria for identification. Proposals include
In ethics and decision-making, harmssuch prompts explicit consideration of trade-offs, accountability, and the limits of mitigation,
Related concepts include risk, ethics, unintended consequences, and proportionality.