Which principle addresses fair distribution of healthcare resources?

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

Answer: (D)

Distributing healthcare resources fairly across people and populations is the idea being tested. The principle of justice in medical ethics centers on fairness and equity in how benefits and burdens are shared. It guides decisions about allocation when resources are limited, aiming to treat similar cases alike and to allocate based on meaningful criteria such as need, prognosis, or contribution to society, so the system as a whole is fair and just. In practice, justice underpins policies like organ transplant waitlists, access to essential medications, and triage protocols during shortages, where the goal is to maximize fair outcomes across the patient population rather than favoring one individual without justification. Autonomy focuses on respecting patient choices, beneficence on acting in the patient's best interest, and nonmaleficence on avoiding harm; while important, they address individual patient duties rather than the fair distribution of resources across society.