What is the term for the capacity to be one's own person and make independent decisions without external manipulation?

What is the term for the capacity to be one's own person and make independent decisions without external manipulation?

• A. Utilitarianism
• B. Beneficence
• C. Autonomy
• D. Principles of utility

Answer: (C)

Autonomy is the capacity to be one’s own person and make independent decisions without external manipulation. In medical ethics, autonomy means recognizing a patient’s right to make choices about their own care, provided they have the decision-making capacity and are informed. This focus on self-governance and personal decision-making is what makes it the best fit here. Utilitarianism evaluates actions by their overall outcomes for the greatest good, beneficence is the obligation to act in a patient’s best interest, and the principle of utility is another way of describing outcome-focused reasoning, not the ability to decide for oneself. An informed patient choosing their own treatment path is a clear example of autonomy in action.

Autonomy is the capacity to be one’s own person and make independent decisions without external manipulation. In medical ethics, autonomy means recognizing a patient’s right to make choices about their own care, provided they have the decision-making capacity and are informed. This focus on self-governance and personal decision-making is what makes it the best fit here. Utilitarianism evaluates actions by their overall outcomes for the greatest good, beneficence is the obligation to act in a patient’s best interest, and the principle of utility is another way of describing outcome-focused reasoning, not the ability to decide for oneself. An informed patient choosing their own treatment path is a clear example of autonomy in action.