If a healthcare provider treats two patients differently based on their appearance, which ethical principle are they failing to uphold?

• A. Justice
• B. Autonomy
• C. Beneficence
• D. Fidelity

Answer: (A)

Justice is the ethical principle at stake. It requires treating all patients fairly and giving them equal access to care without discrimination based on irrelevant factors like appearance. When a provider treats two patients differently solely because of how they look, fairness in care is compromised, which undermines equity and trust in the healthcare system. Autonomy centers on respecting patients’ decisions, beneficence on acting in the patient’s best interest, and fidelity on keeping promises and trust; while these are important, the core issue here is unequal treatment, which violates justice.