Which principle means avoiding harm to the patient?

• A. Autonomy
• B. Nonmaleficence
• C. Justice
• D. Informed Consent

Answer: (B)

Nonmaleficence is the obligation in healthcare to avoid causing harm to patients. It guides decisions to weigh risks versus benefits before any intervention, to avoid procedures that don’t offer real benefit, and to stop treatments when the potential for harm outweighs the advantage. This principle directly describes the idea of preventing harm, which is exactly what the question asks. Autonomy focuses on respecting a patient’s right to make their own decisions; justice concerns fair treatment and resource distribution; informed consent is the process that enables autonomy by ensuring patients understand and agree to care. By centering on avoiding harm to the patient, nonmaleficence best fits the prompt.