When a conventional physician questions the benefit of CAM/IM medicine for a patient, which ethical principle applies?

When a conventional physician questions the benefit of CAM/IM medicine for a patient, which ethical principle applies?

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

Answer: (B)

Beneficence is the ethical principle at play here. It centers on acting in the patient’s best interests and promoting their well-being by choosing interventions likely to provide real benefit. When a conventional physician questions whether CAM or integrative medicine will help the patient, they are applying beneficence by evaluating the potential benefits, weighing them against risks, and aiming to recommend or avoid therapies based on whether they are likely to improve health or well-being. Autonomy would focus on respecting the patient’s right to make their own choices; nonmaleficence emphasizes avoiding harm; justice concerns fair distribution of resources. The action described—assessing whether CAM/IM offers genuine benefit to promote the patient’s welfare—best illustrates beneficence.

Beneficence is the ethical principle at play here. It centers on acting in the patient’s best interests and promoting their well-being by choosing interventions likely to provide real benefit. When a conventional physician questions whether CAM or integrative medicine will help the patient, they are applying beneficence by evaluating the potential benefits, weighing them against risks, and aiming to recommend or avoid therapies based on whether they are likely to improve health or well-being.

Autonomy would focus on respecting the patient’s right to make their own choices; nonmaleficence emphasizes avoiding harm; justice concerns fair distribution of resources. The action described—assessing whether CAM/IM offers genuine benefit to promote the patient’s welfare—best illustrates beneficence.