,1. Which of the following is the best definition of nonmaleficence in
medical ethics?
a) The duty to do no harm or allow harm to be caused to a patient through
neglect
b) The duty to promote the well-being of patients and prevent adverse
outcomes
c) The duty to respect the autonomy and preferences of patients
d) The duty to treat patients fairly and distribute resources equitably
Answer: A. Nonmaleficence is derived from the Latin phrase “primum
non nocere” (“first, do no harm”) and focuses on the mitigation and
prevention of harm . Beneficence, autonomy, and justice are other core
principles in medical ethics that have different objectives.
2. Which of the following is an example of applying nonmaleficence in
medical practice?
a) Obtaining informed consent from a patient before performing a surgery
b) Providing palliative care to a patient with terminal cancer
c) Referring a patient to a specialist for a second opinion
d) Withholding a medication that could cause severe side effects to a
patient
Answer: D. Withholding a medication that could cause severe side effects
to a patient is an example of nonmaleficence, as it prevents harm and
adverse outcomes . Obtaining informed consent, providing palliative care,
and referring a patient to a specialist are examples of beneficence,
autonomy, and justice respectively.
3. Which of the following is not a general rule derived from the principle
of nonmaleficence?
a) Do not cause pain, suffering, or other experiential harm
b) Do not cause illness, injury, or disability
c) Do not deprive of goods or opportunities to which the individuals
deprived have legitimate claims
d) Do not disclose confidential information without permission
Answer: D. Do not disclose confidential information without permission
is not a general rule derived from the principle of nonmaleficence, as it
does not directly relate to causing harm to others . The other three options
are general rules specified from nonmaleficence .
, 4. Which of the following is a potential challenge or limitation of applying
nonmaleficence in medical ethics?
a) It may conflict with other ethical principles or values
b) It may be difficult to measure or quantify harm
c) It may be influenced by personal or cultural biases
d) All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above are potential challenges or limitations of
applying nonmaleficence in medical ethics. For example, nonmaleficence
may conflict with beneficence when there is a trade-off between risks and
benefits, or with autonomy when a patient refuses a life-saving treatment .
It may also be difficult to measure or quantify harm, especially when it
involves psychological, social, or environmental factors . Moreover, it
may be influenced by personal or cultural biases, such as different
definitions or thresholds of harm, or different values or preferences .
5. Which of the following scenarios illustrates a violation of
nonmaleficence in medical practice?
a) A doctor performs an experimental procedure on a patient without their
consent
b) A nurse administers a wrong dose of medication to a patient due to a
calculation error
c) A pharmacist dispenses a counterfeit drug to a patient unknowingly
d) All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above scenarios illustrate a violation of
nonmaleficence in medical practice, as they involve causing harm or
allowing harm to be caused to a patient through neglect . A doctor
performing an experimental procedure on a patient without their consent
violates their autonomy and exposes them to unnecessary risks . A nurse
administering a wrong dose of medication to a patient due to a calculation
error violates their safety and quality of care . A pharmacist dispensing a
counterfeit drug to a patient unknowingly violates their trust and efficacy
of treatment .
6. Which of the following is an ethical principle that is closely connected
to nonmaleficence?
a) Beneficence
b) Autonomy
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