Article Sections

Introduction

Ethical principles are the cornerstone of practicing medicine, guiding physicians in delivering moral and professional care.  The fundamental ethical principles in medicine include autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.  In some situations, these principles may conflict with each other, requiring physicians to prioritize certain ethical principles.

Autonomy

Autonomy refers to the patient's right to make informed decisions about their own health care.  This principle involves respecting the patient's capacity to make choices based on their values, preferences, and understanding of their health conditions.  It also includes respecting a patient's desire to not know certain information about their condition (eg, patient declines to discuss biopsy results and requests they be shared with a family member instead).

Providing informed consent is central to patient autonomy (

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