Which four core principles are commonly identified in biomedical ethics?

• A. Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Justice
• B. Privacy, Fidelity, Liability, Justice
• C. Autonomy, Justice, Confidentiality, Beneficence
• D. Respect, Care, Cost, Access

Answer: (A)

Biomedical ethics is guided by four guiding principles: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Autonomy means respecting a patient’s right to make their own decisions about their care, including informed consent and the freedom to accept or refuse treatment. Beneficence is about promoting the patient’s well-being and acting in their best interests. Non-maleficence centers on not causing harm and minimizing potential harm from care. Justice involves fairness in distributing benefits, risks, and resources, ensuring people are treated equitably.

The option that lists these four principles captures the standard framework used in biomedical ethics, making it the best choice. The other options mix concepts like privacy/confidentiality, fidelity, liability, and broader concerns such as cost and access. While these are important in practice, they are not the four canonical ethical principles themselves.