Four Pillars of Ethics — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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EasyEthics & ProfessionalismFour Pillars of EthicsMFDS Part 1

Which option lists the four principles in Beauchamp and Childress' principlist framework of biomedical ethics, as applied to dental care?

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Correct answer: D — Autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice

The correct answer is D. The four principles are autonomy, respecting a patient's informed choices; beneficence, acting to promote benefit; non-maleficence, avoiding or minimising harm; and justice, acting fairly and distributing benefits and burdens equitably. These principles provide a framework for analysing ethical problems in dental as well as wider healthcare practice. Veracity and fidelity are important ethical duties but are not two of the four principles, so B is incorrect. Utility, equality, truth and charity may influence ethical reasoning but do not constitute the standard four-principles framework, excluding C and D. Consent, confidentiality, competence and care are professional or legal responsibilities rather than the four biomedical ethics principles, excluding E.

Reference: Gillon R. Medical ethics: four principles plus attention to scope. BMJ. 1994;309:184. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23373306/