In the context of medical ethics, what does "nonmaleficence" refer to?

Nonmaleficence is a foundational principle in medical ethics that specifically emphasizes the obligation to avoid causing harm to patients. This principle guides healthcare providers to consider the potential risks and adverse effects of their actions and interventions. It underscores a commitment to prevent any unnecessary suffering or injury while delivering care.

In practice, nonmaleficence requires nursing professionals and other healthcare workers to carefully weigh their decisions and actions, ensuring that the benefits of a proposed treatment or intervention significantly outweigh the potential risks of harm. This principle is crucial in every aspect of patient care, influencing clinical decisions and ethical considerations in medical practice.

The other options relate to different ethical principles: ensuring patient autonomy focuses on respecting patients' rights to make informed choices about their care, providing benefits to patients aligns with the principle of beneficence, and maintaining justice in healthcare pertains to fairness and equitable treatment of all patients. Each of these concepts plays an important role in ethical discussions surrounding healthcare, but nonmaleficence specifically directs attention to the imperative of avoiding harm.