The term which describes no harm to patients is?

Appeared in: PGIMER NO - 2020

Explanation

Nonmaleficence is the core ethical principle that requires healthcare professionals to avoid causing harm to patients.
The principle is often summarized by the Latin phrase primum non nocere, meaning "first, do no harm.".
It involves not only avoiding deliberate harm but also preventing unintentional harm through negligence or carelessness.
Examples include double-checking medication dosages, preventing patient falls, and stopping a treatment that is causing more harm than good.

Option A: Fidelity is about faithfulness and keeping promises, not the avoidance of harm.
Option C: Beneficence is the principle of actively doing good for the patient, which is different from the principle of avoiding harm.
Option D: Veracity is the principle of truth-telling and honesty.

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.
Understanding nonmaleficence is fundamental to patient safety. Every nursing action, from medication administration to patient positioning, must be evaluated for its potential to cause harm.
This principle guides nurses in complex situations, such as end-of-life care, where treatments may have both benefits and burdens. The goal is to choose interventions where the benefits outweigh the potential for harm.
What if? A patient with a terminal illness asks for a dose of pain medication that could hasten their death. The nurse must balance the principle of beneficence (relieving pain) with nonmaleficence (not causing harm/death). This creates an ethical dilemma that often requires consultation with the ethics committee.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question stem: "no harm to patients."
This is a direct recall question testing your knowledge of nursing ethics terminology.
Mentally review the definitions of the ethical principles provided in the options.
Match the key phrase "no harm" to its corresponding principle, which is Nonmaleficence.
Differentiate it from Beneficence, which means "to do good." Nonmaleficence is about avoiding negative actions (harm), while Beneficence is about taking positive actions (good).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 2 p. 81-83

E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 1 p. 75-77

Practise the full PGIMER NO - 2020

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