Pathology · single question
Give all treatment options to a patient with xerostomia, respecting patient autonomy. What principle guides this?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Autonomy — present all options and let the patient choose
- A. Correct. Respecting patient autonomy requires presenting all reasonable treatment options and allowing the patient to make an informed choice, rather than the clinician unilaterally deciding.
- B. While beneficence (acting in the patient's best interest) is also an ethical principle, the specific principle being tested here regarding presenting ALL options is autonomy.
- C. Paternalism (deciding for the patient without their input) directly conflicts with respecting patient autonomy and is not the appropriate approach.