Principles of ethical practice include the following, EXCEPT

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer - 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

Maleficence is the act of committing harm, which is antithetical to ethical practice.
The question asks to identify the term that is NOT a principle of ethical practice, making Maleficence the correct answer.
The actual ethical principle is Non-maleficence, which means to "do no harm" and is the opposite of maleficence.

Option A: This is incorrect because Justice is a fundamental principle of ethical practice.
Option B: This is incorrect because Respect for Autonomy is a cornerstone of modern medical ethics.
Option D: This is incorrect because Beneficence is a core principle of ethical practice.

Visual 1: Infographic - A chart summarizing the four principles of biomedical ethics (Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Justice) with simple icons and brief definitions for each. This helps in quick recall and differentiation.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Core principles of nursing ethics as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding these principles is crucial for navigating everyday clinical situations, from obtaining informed consent (Autonomy) to making decisions about end-of-life care (Beneficence vs. Non-maleficence).
The principle of Justice guides nurses in advocating for fair treatment and resource allocation for all patients, regardless of their social or economic status, which is particularly relevant in the Indian healthcare context.
What if? - If a competent adult patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs, the principle of Autonomy must be respected, even though it conflicts with the nurse's desire to act with Beneficence. The nurse's role is to ensure the patient is fully informed, not to override their decision.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword "EXCEPT" in the question. This tells you that three of the options are correct principles of ethical practice, and one is the outlier.
Next, recall the fundamental principles of nursing and medical ethics. The most common framework includes Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, and Justice.
Evaluate each option against this framework.
Option A (Justice), Option B (Respect for autonomy), and Option D (Beneficence) are all core ethical principles.
Option C (Maleficence) means 'to do harm'. This is the opposite of an ethical principle. The actual principle is 'Non-maleficence' (to do no harm).
Therefore, Maleficence is the correct answer as it is the exception.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full ESIC Nursing Officer - 2019 (Shift-2)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.