JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018
Nursing Foundation
Easy
"Do no harm" is which ethical principle?
Appeared in: JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018
Explanation
- The principle of non-maleficence is defined as the duty to "do no harm" to a patient.
- This concept originates from the Latin maxim primum non nocere, which means "first, do no harm.".
- It obligates healthcare professionals to avoid actions that could cause deliberate or unintentional harm.
- This includes preventing risks such as medication errors, patient falls, or infections.
- It is a foundational principle that prioritizes patient safety above all else.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Veracity is the ethical principle of being truthful and honest with patients. It does not directly relate to the concept of avoiding harm.
- Option B: Beneficence is the principle of "doing good" and taking positive actions to help patients. While it is related to non-maleficence, its focus is on promoting well-being, not simply avoiding harm.
- Option D: Justice refers to fairness and equality in the distribution of healthcare resources and treatment. It is about treating patients equitably, not specifically about avoiding harm.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Ethical Principles in Nursing as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- In daily nursing practice, non-maleficence is applied by following the 'Nine Rights' of medication administration to prevent errors, using proper sterile technique to prevent infections, and implementing fall prevention protocols.
- A nurse's commitment to non-maleficence requires continuous learning and maintaining competency to ensure all actions are safe and based on current evidence.
- What if? - A patient with a terminal illness refuses a life-prolonging treatment that has severe side effects. The principle of autonomy (respecting the patient's choice) may override beneficence (doing good by prolonging life), and honoring the patient's wish respects non-maleficence by avoiding the harm caused by unwanted, painful treatment.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the key phrase in the question stem: "Do no harm".
- This is a factual recall question that asks for the definition of a specific ethical principle.
- Review the provided options, which are all ethical principles.
- Match the key phrase "do no harm" to its corresponding principle.
- Recall or deduce the definitions: Beneficence means 'do good', Veracity means 'tell the truth', Justice means 'be fair', and Non-maleficence means 'do no harm'.
- Select the option that directly matches the definition asked for in the question.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Ethical Principles in Nursing
- Stem keywords: Do no harm, ethical principle
- Lead-in keywords: is which
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
QszzQgw-vUQUC2gXSOY2ok
Reference Book
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 13068-13070
E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 2 p. 81-83
E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 1 p. 75-77
Practise the full JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
More History of Nursing & Nursing as a profession Questions
- The ethical principle which states that the individuals are answerable for their action and have the obligation to act is:
- Health care team obtains permission from the patient before proceeding with the surgery. The ethical principle that describes this act is called:
- The term which describes no harm to patients is?
- The term which describes no harm to the patient is?
- An intern orders intravenous morphine for a case of head injury. Knowing that morphine may be harmful in the case, the nurse does not administer the…
- Nursing was defined as 'the act of utilizing the environment of patients to assist them in their recovery' by?
- Receiving self-satisfaction from helping people in a humanistic way is called as?
- An essential element of professional nursing that involves the initiation of independent nursing interventions without medical orders is?
- Which of the following is true regarding deontology?
- A written statement of policies and principles that guides the behavior of all employees is called?
More JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018 Questions
- Who is the 'Father of Psychoanalytical Theory'?
- Twitching of facial muscles when the facial nerve is tapped anterior to the earlobe is called?
- In a lecture on sexual functioning, a nurse will include the fact that ovulation occurs when the?
- Which of the following is used for passive immunization?
- Management of Wernicke's disease and Beriberi involves administration of?
- When toddlers move around on their hands keeping their abdomen off the floor, it is called?
- 'Do no harm' is which ethical principle?
- A nurse receives an order to give a patient two puffs of salmeterol and two puffs of beclomethasone dipropionate, by a metered dose inhaler. The nurs…
- Eugenics means?
- Parrot-like repetition of words spoken by another person is known as?