Which term for the capacity to make decisions in one's own best interests, often tied to informed consent and privacy?

• A. Dignity
• B. Veracity
• C. Autonomy
• D. Fidelity

Answer: (C)

Autonomy is the capacity to make decisions about one’s own care that reflect personal values and best interests, with freedom from coercion. In medicine, this underpins informed consent and privacy: patients must be able to understand options, weigh risks and benefits, and voluntarily choose a course of action, while also controlling who has access to their personal information and decisions. This self-governance is what allows individuals to determine what happens to their bodies and lives.

Dignity refers to the inherent worth of every person, which underlies respect for autonomy but is broader. Veracity is about truth-telling and honesty in the relationship, and fidelity concerns keeping promises and maintaining trust. These concepts support ethical practice, but they do not specifically capture the capacity for self-directed decision-making in the medical context.