Which principle emphasizes the importance of doing good and preventing harm in healthcare?

The principle that emphasizes the importance of doing good and preventing harm in healthcare is beneficence. This principle mandates healthcare professionals to act in the best interests of patients by promoting their well-being and contributing positively to their health. It encourages practitioners to take actions that will benefit patients—such as providing effective treatments, offering support, and engaging in preventive measures.

Beneficence is about actively contributing to the patient's welfare rather than just refraining from causing harm, which is the focus of the principle of non-maleficence. While non-maleficence emphasizes the obligation to avoid causing harm, beneficence encompasses a broader duty to promote positive health outcomes. Hence, beneficence not only includes the idea of preventing harm but also involves taking proactive steps to ensure that patients thrive, making it central to ethical healthcare practice.