Nonmaleficence is primarily concerned with what duty?

The principle of nonmaleficence is foundational in healthcare and therapeutic practices, emphasizing the obligation of practitioners to avoid causing harm to patients. This duty is pivotal in physical therapy, as therapists must ensure that their interventions do not lead to adverse effects, injury, or worsening of a patient's condition.

By focusing on the duty to do no harm, practitioners are guided to carefully assess the risks associated with their treatments and practices. This includes considering the potential negative outcomes of therapeutic exercises, modalities, or other interventions. Nonmaleficence encourages therapists to act in the best interest of their patients, ensuring safety and minimizing the risk of harm throughout the course of treatment.

In the context of the other options, promoting personal interests may lead to conflict with patient welfare, while facilitating understanding and creating moral laws, while important, do not directly address the ethical obligation of avoiding harm to individuals receiving care. Thus, the emphasis on the duty to do no harm precisely encapsulates the core focus of nonmaleficence in physical therapy ethics.