What does nonmaleficence mean?

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

Nonmaleficence is a core ethical principle in healthcare, derived from the Latin phrase primum non nocere, meaning "first, do no harm.".
This principle obligates healthcare professionals to avoid causing any deliberate or unintentional harm to patients.
It involves protecting patients from danger and making decisions that minimize the risk of harm, even when performing beneficial procedures that have inherent risks.

Option A: This option describes the principle of veracity, which is the duty to be truthful to patients.
Option B: This option describes the principle of justice, which involves fairness, equity, and the impartial distribution of care and resources.
Option C: This option describes the principle of fidelity, which is the duty to keep promises, maintain loyalty, and be faithful to one's commitments to patients.

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 ethical principles is fundamental for nurses to navigate complex clinical dilemmas, advocate for patients, and ensure safe, equitable, and honest care.
These principles guide everyday decisions, from obtaining informed consent (Autonomy) to allocating scarce resources (Justice) and preventing medication errors (Nonmaleficence).
What if? A patient with a terminal illness asks if they are dying. The nurse must balance Veracity (telling the truth) with Nonmaleficence (avoiding psychological harm). The ethical approach is to deliver the truth with compassion and support, not to withhold it, as this respects the patient's autonomy to make informed end-of-life decisions.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the term in the question: 'nonmaleficence'.
Break the word down into its roots: 'non' (not) and 'maleficence' (the doing of harm or evil). This deconstruction directly translates to 'do no harm'.
Next, recall the core ethical principles of nursing (e.g., autonomy, beneficence, justice, fidelity, veracity).
Evaluate each option to see which one matches the definition of 'do no harm'.
Identify the other options as distinct ethical principles (Veracity, Justice, Fidelity) to confirm they are incorrect distractors.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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

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

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 55-57

Practise the full DSSSB 13 August 2024

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