Beneficence
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Beneficence
Beneficence (/bɪˈnɛfɪsəns/) is a concept in medical ethics that states that physicians and other medical personnel should act in the best interest of the patient. The term is derived from the Latin word "beneficium", meaning "benefit".
Etymology
The term "beneficence" is derived from the Latin "bene" meaning "good", and "facere" meaning "to do". Thus, beneficence essentially means "to do good".
Related Terms
- Nonmaleficence: This is another fundamental principle in medical ethics, which states that medical professionals should not harm the patient. It is often considered together with beneficence.
- Autonomy: This is the patient's right to refuse or choose their treatment. It is a fundamental principle in medical ethics and is often considered in conjunction with beneficence.
- Justice: In medical ethics, justice refers to the fair distribution of scarce health resources, and the decision of who gets what treatment (justice in allocation).
- Informed Consent: This is a process for getting permission before conducting a healthcare intervention on a patient. It is closely related to the principles of beneficence and autonomy.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Beneficence
- Wikipedia's article - Beneficence
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