The principle that allows a patient to refuse treatment is known as which term?

The principle that allows a patient to refuse treatment is known as which term?

• A. Beneficence
• B. Justice
• C. Autonomy
• D. Veracity

Answer: (C)

Self-determination in health care is the idea that patients have the right to make their own choices about treatment, including the option to refuse. This is autonomy—the ability to decide what happens to one’s body after being informed about the options, risks, and benefits, and without coercion. When a patient understands what a treatment involves and still chooses to decline, that decision should be respected, provided the patient has decision-making capacity. In nursing, you support autonomy by offering clear information, answering questions, and ensuring the patient’s choice is voluntary and well-documented. If a patient lacks capacity, then a legally authorized surrogate or an advance directive guides decisions, rather than the patient’s own stated preference. Beneficence, veracity, and justice are important ethical principles as well, but they address different ideas: acting in the patient’s best interest, truth-telling, and fair treatment, respectively, rather than the right to refuse.

Self-determination in health care is the idea that patients have the right to make their own choices about treatment, including the option to refuse. This is autonomy—the ability to decide what happens to one’s body after being informed about the options, risks, and benefits, and without coercion. When a patient understands what a treatment involves and still chooses to decline, that decision should be respected, provided the patient has decision-making capacity. In nursing, you support autonomy by offering clear information, answering questions, and ensuring the patient’s choice is voluntary and well-documented. If a patient lacks capacity, then a legally authorized surrogate or an advance directive guides decisions, rather than the patient’s own stated preference. Beneficence, veracity, and justice are important ethical principles as well, but they address different ideas: acting in the patient’s best interest, truth-telling, and fair treatment, respectively, rather than the right to refuse.