The team lead's decision to continue care despite a teammate's wish to kill a prisoner demonstrates which ethical principle?

The team lead's decision to continue care despite a teammate's wish to kill a prisoner demonstrates which ethical principle?

• A. Beneficence
• B. Autonomy
• C. Non-maleficence
• D. Justice

Answer: (C)

Non-maleficence means do no harm. The team lead’s choice to continue care instead of acting on a teammate’s wish to kill a prisoner upholds this principle by preventing harm to the prisoner and preserving life. While beneficence—actively doing good for the patient—also informs medical care, the key point here is refraining from causing harm. Autonomy and justice aren’t the primary focus in this scenario: autonomy would involve the patient’s right to decide about treatment, and justice concerns fair treatment, neither of which directly capture the action described.

Non-maleficence means do no harm. The team lead’s choice to continue care instead of acting on a teammate’s wish to kill a prisoner upholds this principle by preventing harm to the prisoner and preserving life. While beneficence—actively doing good for the patient—also informs medical care, the key point here is refraining from causing harm. Autonomy and justice aren’t the primary focus in this scenario: autonomy would involve the patient’s right to decide about treatment, and justice concerns fair treatment, neither of which directly capture the action described.