What are the ethical principles underlying health care delivery?

The choice highlighting autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice encapsulates the core ethical principles integral to health care delivery systems.

Autonomy refers to respecting patients' rights to make informed decisions about their own health care; this is fundamental in ensuring individuals have control over their medical choices. Beneficence is the ethical obligation to act in the best interest of the patient, promoting their well-being and health outcomes. Non-maleficence, often summarized as "do no harm," emphasizes the importance of avoiding actions that could cause harm to patients. Justice involves fairness in the distribution of health care resources and ensuring equal access to care for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.

These principles collectively establish a framework that respects individual rights, promotes positive health outcomes, minimizes harm, and ensures equitable treatment—essential elements in the ethical practice of health care delivery. The other choices, while they include important considerations in health care, do not capture the fundamental ethical framework guiding decision-making in the medical field as effectively as these four principles do.