"Primum non nocere" means "first, do no harm."
The principle of doing no harm, and avoiding actions or treatments that could cause harm to the patient.
Definition of Non-maleficence: A principle of medical ethics that emphasizes the obligation to do no harm to patients.
Medical Error: Healthcare workers must be aware of the potential for medical errors and work to reduce them. This can include measures such as double-checking medications, improving communication, and implementing evidence-based practices.
Informed Consent: Patients must be fully informed about the risks, benefits, and alternatives to medical procedures and treatments, and must give their voluntary and informed consent before any procedure is performed.
Beneficence: The principle of beneficence asserts that healthcare professionals have a duty to act in a way that benefits their patients. This overlaps with non-maleficence, and balancing these two principles is essential to ethical medical practice.
Medical Negligence and Malpractice: Medical professionals must take reasonable care to avoid harm to their patients. This includes adhering to professional standards, following established policies and procedures, and maintaining proper documentation.
Patient Confidentiality: Patients have the right to confidential treatment of their medical information, and healthcare workers must take steps to ensure the privacy and security of this information.
Quality of Life: The concept of quality of life is important in medical ethics, as it allows healthcare professionals to balance the potential harms and benefits of treatment options and consider the patient's overall well-being.
Palliative Care: Palliative care is intended to alleviate pain, suffering, and other symptoms associated with a serious illness or condition. It is an essential component of ethical medical practice, as it focuses on improving the patient's quality of life and relieving suffering.
End-of-Life Care: End-of-life care involves decisions about how to provide care to patients who are near death or suffering from a terminal illness. This can involve discussions about withholding or withdrawing potentially life-prolonging treatments, and honoring the patient's wishes regarding their care.
Treatment options: Medical ethics require healthcare professionals to consider all available treatment options, as well as the potential risks and benefits of each, before choosing a course of action. This ensures that the patient receives the most appropriate care for their condition while avoiding unnecessary harm.
Do no harm: This is the most widely known type of non-maleficence, meaning that medical practitioners should not cause any harm to their patients.
Minimizing harm: When harm cannot be avoided, the medical practitioner should take steps to minimize harm and make the patient's suffering as bearable as possible.
Risk-benefit analysis: Before a medical practitioner proceeds with any treatment, they should consider the risks and benefits associated with the procedure. If the risk outweighs benefits, the medical practitioner should not proceed with the treatment.
Informed consent: Before a medical procedure, a patient must be informed of all possible risks and benefits associated with the procedure. The patient must then give informed consent to undergo the procedure or treatment.
Confidentiality: Medical practitioners must keep their patient's information confidential and protected at all times. This is to prevent harm to the patient's privacy, reputation or wellbeing.
Respect patient autonomy: Patients have the right to control their own medical treatments and to refuse any treatments they do not wish to undergo.
Stewardship: Medical practitioners have a fiduciary duty to manage their patients' resources responsibly, ensuring that they are not exposed to harm or financial exploitation.
Social responsibility: Medical practitioners have a responsibility to contribute to society by providing health care, sharing medical knowledge and engaging in research that benefits society as a whole.
Equity: Medical practitioners should ensure that all patients receive the same high level of care, regardless of their social status, ethnic background or financial situation.
Continuous improvement: Medical practitioners should continuously improve their knowledge, skills and techniques to ensure they are offering the best possible patient care.
The phrase is sometimes recorded as "primum nil nocere."
Non-maleficence is one of the principal precepts of bioethics derived from the maxim, emphasizing the avoidance of harm.
Non-maleficence is taught to all students in healthcare and is considered a fundamental principle throughout the world.
"Given an existing problem, it may be better not to do something, or even to do nothing, than to risk causing more harm than good."
The principle reminds healthcare personnel to consider the possible harm any intervention might cause.
The principle is invoked when debating the use of an intervention that carries an obvious risk of harm but a less certain chance of benefit.
Non-maleficence is often contrasted with its corollary, beneficence.
The phrase implies the importance of prioritizing the avoidance of harm as the first approach in healthcare.
The principle of non-maleficence is relevant in healthcare decision making by reminding professionals to consider the potential harm outweighing the benefits in any intervention.
Non-maleficence is considered a fundamental principle in bioethics as it emphasizes the moral obligation to avoid harm to patients.
Non-maleficence is typically applied when assessing the risks and benefits of medical interventions.
Non-maleficence requires healthcare providers to carefully evaluate the potential harm compared to the potential benefits of any intervention, taking into account the level of risk involved.
"Primum nil nocere" means "above all, do no harm."
Non-maleficence guides ethical decision making by encouraging healthcare professionals to consider the potential harm that may arise from their actions.
Non-maleficence and beneficence are often juxtaposed as they represent two ethical principles that inform healthcare decisions regarding avoiding harm and promoting well-being for patients.
The principle of non-maleficence requires healthcare providers to prioritize the avoidance of harm over potential benefits when making decisions.
Non-maleficence aligns with the oath's emphasis on doing no harm, which is a fundamental principle for physicians.
The principle of non-maleficence is particularly important when assessing the potential risks and benefits of medical interventions.
The principle of non-maleficence can influence treatment decisions by encouraging healthcare professionals to consider if the risk of harm outweighs the potential benefits in a particular situation.