Which principle reflects patient autonomy in health care decisions?

• A. Beneficence
• B. Autonomy
• C. Nonmaleficence
• D. Justice

Answer: (B)

Autonomy means recognizing the patient’s right to make their own health care decisions after being informed. It involves providing clear information about options, benefits, risks, and alternatives, and obtaining voluntary consent to proceed or to decline treatment. When a patient understands the choices and still chooses a course of action—or opts out of a recommended treatment—the provider honors that decision, supporting the patient’s self-determination. Beneficence focuses on doing what’s best for the patient, nonmaleficence is about not causing harm, and justice concerns fair treatment and resource distribution; none centers on the patient’s right to decide in the same direct way autonomy does.