______ is the requirement for healthcare staff to engage in a higher-level altruism.

• A. Nonmaleficence
• B. Autonomy
• C. Beneficence
• D. Justice

Answer: (C)

Beneficence is the obligation to promote good and act in the patient’s best interests. In healthcare this means going beyond simply avoiding harm to actively seek actions that improve health, alleviate suffering, and enhance well‑being, even when doing so requires extra effort or resources. This is the idea of higher‑level altruism—putting the patient’s welfare at the forefront and taking positive steps to help them. Nonmaleficence is about not causing harm; autonomy emphasizes respecting patients’ own choices; justice focuses on fair distribution of care. A clinician demonstrates beneficence when they recommend or provide a treatment with the best chance of benefit while considering risks, or advocate for a patient’s access to beneficial services.