A nurse ensures fall precautions are in place to prevent patient injury. This demonstrates which ethical principle?

Choice A reason: Non-maleficence is the fundamental ethical duty to "do no harm." By implementing fall precautions, such as keeping the bed in the lowest position, clearing pathways, and ensuring adequate lighting, the nurse is taking proactive steps to protect the patient from accidental injury. The primary focus of this action is the prevention of harm, which is the core definition of the non-maleficence principle. Choice B reason: Beneficence refers to the duty to act in ways that benefit the patient or promote their well-being. While preventing a fall is beneficial, ethical frameworks typically categorize the active prevention of injury or "avoiding the infliction of harm" specifically under non-maleficence. Beneficence usually involves more active "good-doing," such as providing a treatment that improves a patient's underlying health status. Choice C reason: Justice is the ethical principle concerned with fairness, equity, and the appropriate distribution of healthcare resources. It dictates that patients with similar needs should receive similar care and that resources should be allocated without bias. Implementing fall precautions for a specific patient is a safety intervention rather than an issue of social or distributive justice. Choice D reason: Veracity is the ethical principle of truth-telling. It requires healthcare providers to be honest with patients regarding their diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options. Ensuring that a patient does not fall does not involve the communication of information or the maintenance of honesty, so veracity is not the relevant principle in this specific clinical safety scenario.