What does Medical Ethics mean?

• A. A system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of medicine
• B. A hospital billing policy
• C. A personal opinion about patient care
• D. A hospital policy manual

Answer: (A)

Medical ethics is the framework of moral principles that guide clinicians in making decisions and evaluating actions in medicine. It involves applying values and judgments to how care is provided, beyond routine rules or personal opinions. This ethical framework covers important ideas like respecting patient autonomy (honoring patients’ right to make informed choices), beneficence (acting in the patient’s best interest), nonmaleficence (avoiding harm), justice (fair access to care), and confidentiality with informed consent. It’s not about administrative policies or billing, nor about a single person’s opinion or a hospital manual; it’s the normative standard that shapes how clinicians reason through dilemmas and balance patient welfare with ethical obligations and practical constraints.