What ethical principle is best embodied by patient-centered care?

Patient-centered care is primarily focused on respecting and honoring the preferences, needs, and values of the patient. This approach emphasizes the importance of autonomy, allowing patients to make informed choices about their treatment and care based on their individual circumstances and desires.

In the context of patient-centered care, autonomy entails empowering patients to participate actively in discussions about their health and to make decisions regarding their treatment options. This leads to a more collaborative and respectful relationship between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring that individuals feel valued and considered in the decision-making process.

While the other ethical principles—such as justice, non-maleficence, and beneficence—play significant roles in healthcare, they do not capture the essence of patient-centered care as directly as the principle of autonomy. Justice relates to fairness in access to care; non-maleficence involves the obligation not to harm patients; and beneficence emphasizes acting in the best interest of the patient. However, these principles often operate under the umbrella of respecting and promoting a patient’s autonomy as the primary guiding force in patient-centered practices.