The duty to do no harm; foundation of nursing ethics

• A. Beneficence
• B. Euthanasia
• C. Nonmaleficence
• D. Quality of life

Answer: (C)

Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm. It sits at the heart of nursing ethics because patients depend on clinicians to avoid causing injury, pain, or unnecessary risk. In practice, this means carefully weighing treatments for potential harm, choosing safer options when possible, and monitoring closely for adverse effects so that harm is not introduced or left unaddressed. It also involves preventing harm through safe procedures, proper infection control, accurate medication administration, and upholding safety standards. While benefiting the patient is also important, nonmaleficence focuses on minimizing risk and avoiding harm; beneficence is about actively promoting the patient’s well-being, and quality of life or end-of-life decisions like euthanasia are broader considerations rather than the specific duty to avoid harm.