Five Ethical Principles

Ethics

  1. Beneficence (the aim to provide benefit and to do good)

  2. Non-maleficence (the aim to avoid harm)

  3. Justice (striving for fairness and equality)

  4. Autonomy (empowering patients to make their own decisions)

  5. Utility (the need to act for the greater good of the community or society – for example, when health care resources have to be prioritised)

Dr Rajesh Varmaethics