Which ethical principle focuses on acting in the best interest of the patient?

The correct answer, which focuses on acting in the best interest of the patient, is beneficence. This ethical principle is central to healthcare and involves taking actions that promote the well-being of patients. Beneficence requires healthcare professionals to provide care that not only aims to improve patients' health outcomes but also considers their emotional and social needs, ensuring that decisions made prioritize what is most beneficial for the individual in their specific context.

While autonomy is about respecting a patient's right to make their own decisions, and non-maleficence emphasizes the importance of not causing harm, they do not explicitly address the active pursuit of the patient's best interest, which is the essence of beneficence. Justice, on the other hand, relates to fairness and the distribution of resources within the healthcare system, ensuring that all patients receive equitable treatment; however, it does not specifically target the individual patient's interests. Thus, beneficence is uniquely positioned as the principle that actively drives healthcare professionals to prioritize and advocate for the patient's best interests in their care.