Which ethical principle prioritizes patient decisions over medical intervention?

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

Answer: (A)

Autonomy means honoring the patient's right to make their own health care decisions. It requires that the patient has capacity, is given all necessary information, and makes a voluntary, informed choice. In practice, when a patient is competent and informed, their preferences guide care even if the medical team believes another option would be better. This is why autonomy prioritizes patient decisions over medical intervention, because the individual should control what happens to their body and life, within safety and legal limits. Situations may require balancing with beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice, but autonomy serves as the default in respecting personal choice. For example, a patient who refuses a life-saving treatment after understanding risks has the right to refuse, and the provider must respect that decision as long as the patient has capacity.