A patient is informed about a treatment option and exercises their right to refuse; this is an example of which principle?

• A. Patient autonomy
• B. Beneficence
• C. Nonmaleficence
• D. Justice

Answer: (A)

Autonomy in health care is the patient’s right to make their own decisions about treatment after being informed, with the freedom to accept or refuse care and the capacity to stand by that choice. When a patient is informed about a treatment option and then exercises the right to refuse, they are exercising this independent decision-making power. The clinician’s role is to provide clear information about benefits, risks, and alternatives, ensure the patient understands, and respect the patient’s decision even if it means not proceeding with a recommended intervention.

Beneficence is about acting in the patient’s best interest and promoting well-being, which can conflict with autonomy when a patient refuses; autonomy recognizes that the patient may choose a course of action others might not. Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid harm; honoring a patient’s refusal can align with this if proceeding would cause unwanted harm or distress to the patient. Justice relates to fairness in the distribution of resources and opportunities, not the individual decision-making process in this context.

So, the described scenario illustrates patient autonomy—the patient’s right to accept or decline treatment based on informed, voluntary choice.