Which action exemplifies beneficence in patient care?

• A. Providing pain relief and relief of suffering
• B. Avoiding harm by refusing necessary treatment
• C. Withholding information to avoid distress
• D. Discharging a patient early for convenience

Answer: (A)

Beneficence means actively promoting the patient’s well-being and reducing suffering. Providing pain relief directly addresses distress, improves comfort, and supports recovery, which is the clearest example of doing good for the patient in a clinical setting.

The other actions fall short of beneficence: refusing necessary treatment to avoid harm can cause harm and neglect a duty to help; withholding information to avoid distress undermines the patient’s autonomy and ability to participate in care; and discharging a patient early for convenience places system needs above the patient’s welfare.