Which of the following is NOT one of the four core principles of biomedical ethics?

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

Answer: (B)

Four guiding principles in biomedical ethics are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Privacy is not one of these guiding principles. Privacy matters for trust and confidentiality and supports ethical practice, but it isn’t listed as a standalone principle in Beauchamp and Childress’ framework.

Autonomy means honoring patients’ informed choices and supporting their right to decide about their own care. Beneficence is about acting in the patient’s best interests. Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid causing harm. Justice concerns fairness and equity in how benefits and burdens are distributed, such as access to care and fair treatment. Privacy intersects with these ideas—protecting information helps maintain autonomy and prevents harm—but it is not itself categorized as one of the four core principles.