Which set of terms reflects the core bioethics principles used in clinical decisions?

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Clinical decisions in bioethics are guided by four widely recognized principles: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Autonomy respects a patient’s right to make informed choices about their own care. Beneficence means acting in the patient’s best interests and promoting good. Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid causing harm. Justice concerns fair treatment and fair distribution of healthcare resources. This combination covers respecting patients, promoting well-being, avoiding harm, and ensuring fairness, which is why it best fits the common framework used in clinical decisions.

Other options mix in ideas that aren’t part of that standard quartet. For example, speed and efficiency are practical goals, not core ethical principles. Paternalism conflicts with autonomy by overriding patient choice. Privacy or confidentiality are important safeguards but don’t stand as one of the four primary principles, and some sets may omit nonmaleficence or replace it with another concept.