Which principle emphasizes respecting a patient's right to make their own decisions?

Which principle emphasizes respecting a patient's right to make their own decisions?

• A. Autonomy
• B. Nonmaleficence
• C. Fidelity
• D. Veracity

Answer: (A)

Autonomy means honoring a patient’s right to make decisions about their own care. It requires clear information, assessment of the patient’s capacity, and voluntary consent before any treatment. When a capable patient chooses to refuse or accept an option, that choice should be respected even if the clinician disagrees, because each person governs their own body and values. If the patient lacks capacity, decisions should be guided by a legally authorized surrogate or advance directives in line with the patient’s known wishes. The other principles—nonmaleficence (do no harm), fidelity (keep promises), and veracity (truth-telling)—address different duties in the clinician–patient relationship, but autonomy specifically centers on the patient’s self-governance in medical decisions.

Autonomy means honoring a patient’s right to make decisions about their own care. It requires clear information, assessment of the patient’s capacity, and voluntary consent before any treatment. When a capable patient chooses to refuse or accept an option, that choice should be respected even if the clinician disagrees, because each person governs their own body and values. If the patient lacks capacity, decisions should be guided by a legally authorized surrogate or advance directives in line with the patient’s known wishes. The other principles—nonmaleficence (do no harm), fidelity (keep promises), and veracity (truth-telling)—address different duties in the clinician–patient relationship, but autonomy specifically centers on the patient’s self-governance in medical decisions.