What does the term 'Beneficence' refer to in healthcare ethics?

The term 'Beneficence' in healthcare ethics refers to the ethical principle of doing good or causing good to be done. This principle emphasizes the importance of healthcare professionals taking actions that promote the well-being and best interests of patients. It encompasses not only the duty to provide care that benefits patients but also to prevent harm and to actively contribute to their health and well-being.

This ethical guideline underlines the obligations of healthcare providers to act in ways that enhance the physical, psychological, and emotional health of their patients. It encourages practitioners to advocate for and implement treatments and interventions that have positive outcomes, ensuring that the care provided is genuinely beneficial.

The other options, while relevant to aspects of healthcare, do not align with the definition of beneficence. Causing harm to patients contradicts the very essence of beneficial care. Maintaining patient confidentiality is an important ethical principle, but it falls under the category of autonomy and justice, rather than beneficence. Providing financial support to patients, while a supportive action, does not directly address the broader ethical obligation to promote well-being that beneficence encompasses.