Which statement best defines the ethical principle of nonmalfeasance?

Which statement best defines the ethical principle of nonmalfeasance?

• A. Nonmalfeasance relates to health care providers actively seeking to avoid harming the patient.
• B. Nonmalfeasance relates to actively seeking to do good for the patient.
• C. Nonmalfeasance relates to the fair distribution of resources.
• D. Nonmalfeasance relates to respecting patient autonomy.

Answer: (A)

Nonmaleficence is the obligation to do no harm. It guides clinicians to avoid actions or interventions that could injure the patient and to weigh potential harms against possible benefits before acting. The statement aligns with this by emphasizing that health care providers actively seek to avoid harming the patient, which is the essence of the principle. In practice, this means choosing therapies with a favorable balance of benefit over risk, monitoring for adverse effects, and stopping or altering treatment when the harms outweigh the benefits. For contrast: doing good for the patient is beneficence; fair distribution of resources points to justice; and respecting patient autonomy concerns the patient’s right to make their own choices. Nonmaleficence focuses specifically on preventing harm rather than on doing good, ensuring that actions taken in care do not cause avoidable injury.

Nonmaleficence is the obligation to do no harm. It guides clinicians to avoid actions or interventions that could injure the patient and to weigh potential harms against possible benefits before acting.

The statement aligns with this by emphasizing that health care providers actively seek to avoid harming the patient, which is the essence of the principle. In practice, this means choosing therapies with a favorable balance of benefit over risk, monitoring for adverse effects, and stopping or altering treatment when the harms outweigh the benefits.

For contrast: doing good for the patient is beneficence; fair distribution of resources points to justice; and respecting patient autonomy concerns the patient’s right to make their own choices. Nonmaleficence focuses specifically on preventing harm rather than on doing good, ensuring that actions taken in care do not cause avoidable injury.