The principle of increasing public benefit from science while decreasing harm is called

• A. Public beneficence
• B. Nonmaleficence
• C. Beneficence
• D. Justice

Answer: (A)

Public beneficence is the idea that scientific work should maximize benefits to society while minimizing potential harms. This goes beyond simply “doing good” for an individual and focuses on the welfare of the public through scientific progress. Nonmaleficence is about not causing harm, which is part of the picture but not the emphasis on increasing societal benefits. Beneficence generally centers on promoting well-being, often for individuals, rather than the broader public good. Justice focuses on fair distribution of benefits and burdens. So the description of enhancing public benefit from science while reducing harm aligns best with public beneficence.