Which term is defined as the ethical obligation to do no harm?

• A. Nonmaleficence
• B. Beneficence
• C. Credible
• D. Role model

Answer: (B)

The ethical obligation to do no harm is nonmaleficence. This principle means that healthcare professionals should avoid causing harm to patients, minimize risks, and refrain from actions where possible harm outweighs any potential benefit. It’s a foundational idea in medicine, often summarized as “first, do no harm.”

Nonmaleficence guides decisions like avoiding unnecessary procedures, selecting safer treatment options, and carefully weighing risks and benefits before acting. It’s closely linked to beneficence, which is about actively promoting the patient’s well-being; however, beneficence can involve actions with potential risks if the net effect is beneficial. Nonmaleficence, by contrast, emphasizes preventing harm as the starting point.

The other terms you might see aren’t ethical principles in this sense. Credible refers to trustworthiness or believability, and a role model describes an example to follow—neither captures the duty to avoid harm in patient care.