The Four Pillars of Medical Ethics

Medical ethics is a set of principles that guide the behaviour of healthcare professionals. These principles ensure that healthcare providers provide care that is safe, effective, and respectful of patients' rights. The four pillars of medical ethics are autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. We’re sure you are already familiar with these concepts, but to summarise:

Autonomy

“The patient has control of their treatment”.

Autonomy refers to the right of a patient to make decisions about their own medical care. Healthcare providers must respect patients' autonomy by providing them with all the necessary information to make informed decisions about their care. Patients have the right to refuse treatment, even if doing so may result in harm to themselves. Decisions about the patient, with the patient.

Beneficence

“Do good/maximise good”.

Beneficence is the principle of doing good. Healthcare providers are obligated to act in the best interests of their patients and to provide care that will benefit them. This principle requires healthcare providers to use their skills and knowledge to help patients and to promote their well-being.

Non-maleficence

“Do no harm/minimise harm”.

Healthcare providers must avoid causing harm to their patients and must take steps to prevent harm from occurring. This principle requires healthcare providers to be knowledgeable about the potential risks and benefits of different treatments and to use that knowledge to minimise harm.

Justice

“Act fairly and within the law”.

Justice refers to the principle of fairness. Healthcare providers must treat all patients with the same level of care, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status. This principle requires healthcare providers to be aware of potential biases and to actively work to eliminate them.

All medical decisions must be made on a basis of the patients clinical needs only.