Health Care Ethics Practice Test

In Weber’s decision-making framework, decisions are driven by respect for the patient as a moral agent with rights. The highest priority is protecting individual rights and self-determination, meaning patients control what happens to their bodies and lives. This requires checking decision-making capacity, providing full information, and ensuring voluntary informed consent before any medical action. In practice, even if a clinician believes a treatment would benefit the patient, honoring the patient’s right to decide takes precedence. Autonomy is the practical manifestation of these rights in daily choices, but the model centers on safeguarding the rights themselves. Beneficence and integrity remain important, yet they are weighed against the patient’s rights and should not override a competent patient’s informed decision to accept or refuse treatment. For example, a patient who declines a proposed therapy exercises their right to refuse, and the clinician should honor that choice after confirming capacity and ensuring understanding.