Which statement reflects nonmaleficence?

• A. Respect for patient autonomy above all else
• B. Seek the least restrictive alternative
• C. Provide only beneficial interventions
• D. Refrain from causing harm, injury, or wrongdoing...requires avoiding actions that cause harm

Answer: (D)

Nonmaleficence means an obligation to avoid causing harm to patients. It guides clinical decisions by making safety the priority: do not take actions that could injure, worsen a patient’s condition, or create unnecessary risk. In practice, this involves weighing potential harms and benefits, choosing options with the least risk when possible, and stopping or altering treatments that cause more harm than good.

The statement that best reflects nonmaleficence directly captures this duty to refrain from causing harm and to avoid actions that could lead to harm. It emphasizes safety and harm avoidance as a central responsibility.

Other statements align with related ethical ideas but not with nonmaleficence itself. Respecting autonomy centers on honoring a patient’s right to make their own decisions. Seeking the least restrictive alternative relates to autonomy and minimizing coercion. Providing only beneficial interventions echoes beneficence, which is about actively promoting good, not merely avoiding harm.