Nonmaleficence Exam Prep Document 2026/2027 | Bioethics,
Patient Safety & Ethical Healthcare Decision-Making Questions
With Verified Answers
1. What is the primary meaning of nonmaleficence in healthcare ethics?
A. Respecting patient choices
B. Doing no harm
C. Promoting justice
D. Maximizing benefits
✅ Correct Answer: B. Doing no harm
2. Which ethical principle is most closely associated with avoiding unnecessary injury to
patients?
A. Fidelity
B. Veracity
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Autonomy
✅ Correct Answer: C. Nonmaleficence
3. A nurse double-checks medication dosages before administration primarily to uphold
which principle?
A. Justice
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Confidentiality
✅ Correct Answer: C. Nonmaleficence
4. Which statement best reflects nonmaleficence?
A. Always respect patient decisions.
B. Prevent or minimize harm whenever possible.
,C. Treat all patients equally.
D. Tell the truth in all situations.
✅ Correct Answer: B. Prevent or minimize harm whenever possible.
5. A physician decides against a risky procedure because potential harms outweigh
benefits. This demonstrates:
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Veracity
✅ Correct Answer: C. Nonmaleficence
6. The phrase "First, do no harm" is most commonly associated with:
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Fidelity
✅ Correct Answer: C. Nonmaleficence
7. Which action would violate nonmaleficence?
A. Obtaining informed consent
B. Reporting medication errors
C. Ignoring a known allergy before prescribing medication
D. Educating patients about risks
✅ Correct Answer: C. Ignoring a known allergy before prescribing medication
8. In patient safety initiatives, nonmaleficence requires healthcare providers to:
A. Focus only on treatment outcomes
B. Avoid preventable harm
C. Increase profits
D. Prioritize research participation
✅ Correct Answer: B. Avoid preventable harm
, 9. Which ethical dilemma most directly involves nonmaleficence?
A. Allocation of scarce resources
B. Confidentiality concerns
C. Deciding whether a treatment's risks exceed its benefits
D. Cultural competence
✅ Correct Answer: C. Deciding whether a treatment's risks exceed its benefits
10. Medication reconciliation helps promote nonmaleficence by:
A. Increasing patient autonomy
B. Preventing medication-related harm
C. Improving reimbursement
D. Enhancing documentation only
✅ Correct Answer: B. Preventing medication-related harm
11. A surgeon discloses potential complications before surgery. This primarily supports:
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Confidentiality
D. Loyalty
✅ Correct Answer: A. Autonomy
12. Which situation best illustrates balancing beneficence and nonmaleficence?
A. Refusing all treatments
B. Performing a painful procedure that offers significant health benefits
C. Sharing confidential records
D. Ignoring patient preferences
✅ Correct Answer: B. Performing a painful procedure that offers significant health
benefits
13. A healthcare provider notices unsafe equipment and reports it immediately. This action
reflects:
A. Nonmaleficence
Patient Safety & Ethical Healthcare Decision-Making Questions
With Verified Answers
1. What is the primary meaning of nonmaleficence in healthcare ethics?
A. Respecting patient choices
B. Doing no harm
C. Promoting justice
D. Maximizing benefits
✅ Correct Answer: B. Doing no harm
2. Which ethical principle is most closely associated with avoiding unnecessary injury to
patients?
A. Fidelity
B. Veracity
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Autonomy
✅ Correct Answer: C. Nonmaleficence
3. A nurse double-checks medication dosages before administration primarily to uphold
which principle?
A. Justice
B. Beneficence
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Confidentiality
✅ Correct Answer: C. Nonmaleficence
4. Which statement best reflects nonmaleficence?
A. Always respect patient decisions.
B. Prevent or minimize harm whenever possible.
,C. Treat all patients equally.
D. Tell the truth in all situations.
✅ Correct Answer: B. Prevent or minimize harm whenever possible.
5. A physician decides against a risky procedure because potential harms outweigh
benefits. This demonstrates:
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Veracity
✅ Correct Answer: C. Nonmaleficence
6. The phrase "First, do no harm" is most commonly associated with:
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Fidelity
✅ Correct Answer: C. Nonmaleficence
7. Which action would violate nonmaleficence?
A. Obtaining informed consent
B. Reporting medication errors
C. Ignoring a known allergy before prescribing medication
D. Educating patients about risks
✅ Correct Answer: C. Ignoring a known allergy before prescribing medication
8. In patient safety initiatives, nonmaleficence requires healthcare providers to:
A. Focus only on treatment outcomes
B. Avoid preventable harm
C. Increase profits
D. Prioritize research participation
✅ Correct Answer: B. Avoid preventable harm
, 9. Which ethical dilemma most directly involves nonmaleficence?
A. Allocation of scarce resources
B. Confidentiality concerns
C. Deciding whether a treatment's risks exceed its benefits
D. Cultural competence
✅ Correct Answer: C. Deciding whether a treatment's risks exceed its benefits
10. Medication reconciliation helps promote nonmaleficence by:
A. Increasing patient autonomy
B. Preventing medication-related harm
C. Improving reimbursement
D. Enhancing documentation only
✅ Correct Answer: B. Preventing medication-related harm
11. A surgeon discloses potential complications before surgery. This primarily supports:
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Confidentiality
D. Loyalty
✅ Correct Answer: A. Autonomy
12. Which situation best illustrates balancing beneficence and nonmaleficence?
A. Refusing all treatments
B. Performing a painful procedure that offers significant health benefits
C. Sharing confidential records
D. Ignoring patient preferences
✅ Correct Answer: B. Performing a painful procedure that offers significant health
benefits
13. A healthcare provider notices unsafe equipment and reports it immediately. This action
reflects:
A. Nonmaleficence
