Which of the following ethical principles refers to the duty 'not to harm'?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2021

Explanation

The principle of non-maleficence is defined as the duty to avoid causing harm or hurt to others.
It is a fundamental tenet of healthcare ethics, often summarized by the Latin phrase 'primum non nocere,' which means 'first, do no harm.'.
This principle obligates healthcare professionals to protect patients from both intentional and unintentional harm.
Actions like double-checking medication orders and patient allergies are direct applications of non-maleficence.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option B: Beneficence is the principle of actively doing good and promoting the well-being of others, which is different from simply avoiding harm.
Option C: Fidelity refers to the duty to be faithful, keep promises, and honor commitments made to patients and others.
Option D: Veracity is the principle of being truthful and honest with patients.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Core Ethical Principles in Nursing as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Non-maleficence is not an abstract concept; it guides everyday nursing actions like preventing medication errors, ensuring patient safety from falls, and using proper infection control measures.
Nurses must constantly perform a risk-benefit analysis. A procedure might be beneficial, but the nurse's duty under non-maleficence is to minimize any potential harm or pain associated with it.
This principle is the ethical justification for questioning a doctor's order that seems incorrect or potentially harmful to the patient.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question stem: 'duty not to harm'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of the definitions of core ethical principles in nursing.
Review the provided options and match the key phrase to its correct definition.
Non-maleficence directly translates to 'do no harm.'
Differentiate this from Beneficence, which is 'doing good,' Fidelity, which is 'keeping promises,' and Veracity, which is 'telling the truth,' to confirm the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Core Ethical Principles in Nursing
Stem keywords: ethical principles, duty, not to harm
Lead-in keywords: Which
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QvZXOZLJ3pM7ZcyyBR6sVQ

Reference Book

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

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

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

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