Which principle requires harm to be avoided (minimize possible harms)?

Which principle requires harm to be avoided (minimize possible harms)?

• A. Beneficence
• B. Autonomy
• C. Non-maleficence
• D. Justice

Answer: (C)

Non-maleficence is the obligation to avoid causing harm and to minimize harm whenever possible. In practice, this means carefully weighing risks, avoiding actions that could injure patients, and taking steps to reduce potential harms, even when pursuing beneficial outcomes. For example, selecting safer treatments, minimizing unnecessary pain, and ensuring informed consent so patients understand risks. This principle directly embodies harm avoidance, which is why it best answers the prompt. Beneficence focuses on doing good, autonomy on respecting patient choices, and justice on fair distribution; none centers on minimizing harm as explicitly as non-maleficence.

Non-maleficence is the obligation to avoid causing harm and to minimize harm whenever possible. In practice, this means carefully weighing risks, avoiding actions that could injure patients, and taking steps to reduce potential harms, even when pursuing beneficial outcomes. For example, selecting safer treatments, minimizing unnecessary pain, and ensuring informed consent so patients understand risks. This principle directly embodies harm avoidance, which is why it best answers the prompt. Beneficence focuses on doing good, autonomy on respecting patient choices, and justice on fair distribution; none centers on minimizing harm as explicitly as non-maleficence.