The duty to maintain a promise to a patient is part of which ethical principle?

The duty to maintain a promise to a patient is clearly aligned with the ethical principle of fidelity. Fidelity refers to the obligation of healthcare providers to uphold their commitments and promises to patients, which fosters trust and loyalty in the patient-provider relationship. By keeping promises, such as maintaining confidentiality or adhering to treatment plans, healthcare professionals uphold their ethical duty to provide reliable and consistent care.

In contrast, the other principles relate to different aspects of ethical practice. Justice pertains to fairness in distributing resources and ensuring equitable treatment, beneficence focuses on actions that promote the well-being of patients, and nonmaleficence emphasizes the duty to do no harm. While all of these principles are crucial in nursing practice, fidelity is specifically about the integrity of the promises made to patients.