Which of the following is an aspect of beneficence?

• A. Do no harm
• B. Act in the patient's interest and provide comfort
• C. Respect patient autonomy
• D. Justice in resource allocation

Answer: (B)

Beneficence means actively promoting the patient’s well‑being by taking steps that benefit them, relieve suffering, and support their health goals. Actively acting in the patient’s interest and providing comfort best captures this duty because it describes concrete, beneficial actions aimed at improving the patient’s condition and experience, not just avoiding harm or following rules.

Doing no harm reflects non-maleficence—the obligation to avoid causing harm—without committing to actions that promote good in every situation. Respecting patient autonomy is about honoring the patient’s right to make their own decisions, which is a separate ethical principle, even though beneficence and autonomy can interact in practice. Justice in resource allocation concerns fair distribution of limited resources and is another distinct area of ethical focus.