A patient presents with a dental emergency, but their insurance is not accepted at your clinic. You provide emergency treatment anyway. Which ethical principle is being demonstrated?

Beneficence is the ethical principle of acting in the patient's best interest and promoting their welfare. Treating a patient in pain despite insurance limitations demonstrates beneficence — prioritizing the patient's health needs over financial concerns. Justice refers to fair distribution of healthcare resources and treating patients equitably. Non-maleficence means 'do no harm.' Autonomy refers to respecting the patient's right to make their own decisions. Providing emergency care for an uninsured patient is a classic example of beneficence in dental practice.