A patient requests teeth whitening and the dentist agrees to perform the procedure as requested. Which ethical principle is primarily being respected?

Autonomy (patient self-determination) is the ethical principle that respects the patient's right to make informed decisions about their own dental care. When a dentist performs a procedure at the patient's request after appropriate informed consent — even if the procedure is elective and not medically necessary — this is an exercise of patient autonomy. The dentist's role is to inform the patient of risks, benefits, and alternatives, and then honor the patient's choice. Beneficence refers to actively doing good, and non-maleficence refers to avoiding harm.