What ethical principle is directly concerned with not inflicting harm?

The ethical principle that is directly concerned with not inflicting harm is nonmaleficence. This principle emphasizes the obligation of healthcare providers, including physical therapists, to avoid causing harm to patients. It serves as a foundational element in ethical healthcare practice, mandating that professionals take necessary precautions to prevent any potential injury or adverse effects during treatment.

Nonmaleficence guides practitioners to consider the risks associated with their interventions and to strive for a balance between the potential benefits and risks of treatment. This principle is particularly important in physical therapy, where interventions can sometimes lead to discomfort or unintended complications if not performed with care.

While beneficence promotes actions that contribute to the welfare of patients, emphasizing the importance of providing benefits and fostering positive outcomes, it is nonmaleficence specifically that focuses on preventing harm. Autonomy relates to respecting a patient’s right to make decisions about their healthcare, and justice pertains to fairness in the distribution of medical resources and treatment among patients. These principles, while important in their own right, do not specifically address the prevention of harm in the same way that nonmaleficence does.