Which ethical principle is primarily concerned with avoiding causing harm?

• A. Autonomy
• B. Beneficence
• C. Nonmaleficence
• D. Justice

Answer: (C)

Nonmaleficence centers on avoiding harm to patients. It embodies the idea of “do no harm” and guides clinicians to minimize risks, prevent injury, and refrain from actions that could injure patients, even when some benefit might be possible from taking action. In practice, this means carefully considering the potential downsides of any intervention, avoiding unnecessary procedures, and choosing options with the lowest risk of harm while still aiming to help. Beneficence, by contrast, is about promoting the patient’s welfare and doing good, while autonomy focuses on supporting patients’ informed choices, and justice concerns fair treatment and resource distribution. So when the aim is to avoid causing harm, nonmaleficence is the principal guiding principle.