Which principle concerns respecting a patient's right to make their own decisions?

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

Answer: (B)

Autonomy is about respecting a patient’s right to make decisions about their own care. It means recognizing that individuals have the capacity to choose what happens to their bodies, and to consent to or refuse treatments based on their values, preferences, and beliefs. In practice, this shows up through informed consent: patients must understand the options, risks, and benefits, and their decisions must be voluntary and made by a competent person. When a patient exercises autonomy, the clinician supports that choice, even if it isn’t what the clinician would prefer, and works to arrange care that aligns with the patient’s wishes while providing necessary information and alternatives. This principle sits at the heart of patient-centered care and shared decision-making, and it operates alongside beneficence (doing good) and nonmaleficence (avoiding harm). Veracity (truth-telling) supports autonomy by ensuring accurate information is available, but the central idea is the patient’s authority to decide.