Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence (pronounced non-mal-uh-fuh-suhns) is a fundamental principle in medical ethics that requires healthcare professionals to avoid causing harm to their patients. The term is derived from the Latin phrase "primum non nocere," which means "first, do no harm."
Etymology
The term "Nonmaleficence" is derived from the Latin "non" meaning "not," and "maleficium" meaning "wrongdoing" or "mischief." In the context of medical ethics, it refers to the principle that a healthcare professional should not cause harm to a patient.
Related Terms
- Beneficence: This is another principle in medical ethics that requires healthcare professionals to act in the best interest of their patients.
- Autonomy: This principle respects the decision-making capacities of autonomous persons, allowing them to make their own decisions regarding their health.
- Justice: This principle in medical ethics requires that there should be an element of fairness in all medical decisions.
- Informed Consent: This is a process for getting permission before conducting a healthcare intervention on a patient.
Principle of Nonmaleficence in Medical Ethics
The principle of nonmaleficence asserts that healthcare professionals have a duty to avoid causing harm to their patients. This principle is closely related to the principle of beneficence, which requires healthcare professionals to promote the well-being of their patients. However, while beneficence encourages actions that will help others, nonmaleficence is about avoiding harm.
In practice, the principle of nonmaleficence means that healthcare professionals must consider whether their actions could harm a patient, and avoid those actions if possible. This could include avoiding unnecessary procedures, or choosing the least harmful among several possible treatments.
See Also
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