Which set of concepts constitutes the four core principles of biomedical ethics?

• A. Autonomy, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, and Justice.
• B. Privacy, Fidelity, Veracity, and Paternalism.
• C. Autonomy, Confidentiality, Truth-Telling, and Equity.
• D. Beneficence, Veracity, Justice, and Autonomy.

Answer: (A)

These four principles—autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice—are the backbone of biomedical ethics. Autonomy respects each person’s right to make informed decisions about their own health. Beneficence is the obligation to help others and promote their well-being. Nonmaleficence means avoiding harm or minimizing harm when possible. Justice concerns fair and equitable distribution of benefits, risks, and access to care.

This combination is the standard quartet cited in ethical discussions because it covers individual rights, acts of well-being, the imperative not to hurt, and fairness in treatment and resource allocation. The other options mix related ideas (like privacy or truth-telling) or include items that can conflict with autonomy (paternalism) or aren’t grouped as one of the four core principles, so they don’t form the canonical framework.