In general usage, autonomy refers to which concept?

• A. Freedom from external control.
• B. The obligation to avoid harm.
• C. The duty to benefit others.
• D. Fair distribution of resources.

Answer: (A)

Autonomy means being free to govern yourself and make your own decisions without outside coercion or external control. In everyday language, it’s the sense of independence and self-rule. When applied to people, especially in nursing ethics, autonomy emphasizes respecting an individual’s right to decide what happens to their own body and life, as long as they have the information and capacity to choose. This is why the best answer describes freedom from external control. The other ideas map to different ethical principles: avoiding harm aligns with nonmaleficence, the duty to benefit others aligns with beneficence, and fair distribution of resources aligns with justice.