What is the principle of non-maleficence in healthcare ethics?

The principle of non-maleficence in healthcare ethics is fundamentally about the obligation to avoid causing harm to patients. This principle emphasizes that healthcare providers should take all necessary precautions to ensure that their actions do not inflict any unnecessary physical or psychological harm on patients. It serves as a foundational concept that underpins medical practice and decision-making, guiding practitioners to consider the potential risks and benefits of any intervention or treatment.

In healthcare, ensuring non-maleficence means that practitioners must carefully evaluate the possible consequences of their actions and prioritize patient safety above all else. This principle works in conjunction with beneficence, which focuses on promoting the well-being of patients, and the two together emphasize a holistic approach to patient care.

Other principles listed, while important in their own right, do not encapsulate the essence of non-maleficence. For example, acting in the best interest of the patient relates more closely to beneficence rather than the specific duty not to harm. Similarly, promoting the greatest good for the greatest number refers to utilitarianism and fair distribution of resources, focusing on outcomes rather than individual patient safety, which diverges from the specific commitment to avoid harm. Lastly, the principle of distributing benefits fairly touches on justice in healthcare ethics,