Which ethical principle is about honoring a client's right to make their own decisions about care?

Which ethical principle is about honoring a client's right to make their own decisions about care?

• A. Autonomy
• B. Beneficence
• C. Confidentiality
• D. Justice

Answer: (B)

Autonomy is the principle that honors a client’s right to self-determination in care. It means recognizing that individuals have the capacity to decide what happens to their bodies and to accept or refuse treatment after receiving clear, relevant information. In practice, this is shown through obtaining informed consent, assessing decision-making capacity, offering alternatives, and respecting refusals or preferences, even when a clinician believes another course would be better. Other principles guide different aims: beneficence is about acting for the patient’s good, which can conflict with autonomy if a patient refuses a beneficial intervention; confidentiality protects private information; justice focuses on fair treatment and access. Emphasizing a patient’s decisions and supporting their values reflects autonomy in action.