Which four principles make up the four-quadrant model used to guide ethical decisions in healthcare?

Which four principles make up the four-quadrant model used to guide ethical decisions in healthcare?

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

Answer: (A)

The four-principle approach in healthcare ethics centers on four core ideas: Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Autonomy, and Justice. Beneficence is about promoting the patient’s good and well-being, actively doing what helps. Nonmaleficence means avoiding harm or hurt to the patient. Autonomy respects the patient’s right to make their own informed decisions about their care. Justice concerns fairness in how care and resources are distributed. These four together provide a practical framework clinicians use to weigh competing duties and values in ethical decision making. The exact order of these terms isn’t important—the set matters. Any listing that includes all four accurately reflects the model.

The four-principle approach in healthcare ethics centers on four core ideas: Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Autonomy, and Justice. Beneficence is about promoting the patient’s good and well-being, actively doing what helps. Nonmaleficence means avoiding harm or hurt to the patient. Autonomy respects the patient’s right to make their own informed decisions about their care. Justice concerns fairness in how care and resources are distributed. These four together provide a practical framework clinicians use to weigh competing duties and values in ethical decision making. The exact order of these terms isn’t important—the set matters. Any listing that includes all four accurately reflects the model.