Which set includes the four main principles of biomedical ethics?

• A. Autonomy, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Justice
• B. Privacy, Justice, Fidelity, Beneficence
• C. Autonomy, Veracity, Paternalism, Justice
• D. Respect, Autonomy, Nonmaleficence, Charity

Answer: (A)

Autonomy, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, and Justice guide biomedical ethics. Autonomy means respecting a patient’s right to make their own decisions about care, supported by clear information and informed consent. Beneficence is acting in the patient’s best interest, promoting well‑being while carefully balancing benefits and harms. Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm, avoiding interventions where the risks outweigh the benefits. Justice focuses on fairness in distributing benefits and burdens, ensuring equity in access and treatment.

These four together cover the foundational ideas clinicians use to navigate decisions, from obtaining consent and choosing treatments to allocating limited resources. Other options mix related concepts like privacy, fidelity, veracity, paternalism, or charity, which are important in bioethics but do not comprise the standard four guiding principles.