Which principle ensures that patients make informed decisions about their care?

The principle of autonomy is fundamental in healthcare because it emphasizes the right of patients to make informed decisions regarding their own care. This principle recognizes that individuals have the capacity and the right to govern their own lives, which includes making choices about their medical treatment. When healthcare providers respect patient autonomy, they ensure that patients are provided with all the necessary information about their condition, treatment options, potential risks, and benefits, enabling them to make choices that align with their personal values and preferences.

Informed consent is a practical application of the principle of autonomy, where patients must be adequately informed and their consent must be obtained before any medical intervention. This approach not only upholds the individual's rights but also fosters trust and collaborative relationships between patients and healthcare professionals.

Other principles, such as non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice, also play essential roles in healthcare ethics but do not specifically focus on the patient's right to make decisions. Non-maleficence is about avoiding harm, beneficence involves acting in the patient's best interests, and justice pertains to fairness and equality in the distribution of healthcare resources. While all of these principles are important in healthcare, autonomy specifically ensures that patients have control over their own healthcare decisions.