Which principle means to avoid causing harm to others?

The principle that means to avoid causing harm to others is known as non-maleficence. This ethical concept is fundamental in healthcare and caregiving practices, as it emphasizes the importance of protecting the well-being of individuals and ensuring that any actions taken do not inflict harm, whether physically, psychologically, or emotionally.

In practice, non-maleficence requires caregivers to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits of their actions and interventions. It serves as a guiding principle to help professionals prioritize patient safety, foster trust, and promote a secure environment for those in their care. This principle underlines the moral obligation to prevent harm as a cornerstone of ethical caregiving.

While other principles such as reliability, justice, and integrity are important ethical considerations in caregiving, they focus on different aspects of caregiver conduct. Reliability relates to being dependable, justice refers to fairness and equality in treatment, and integrity emphasizes honesty and moral uprightness. Non-maleficence, however, specifically addresses the crucial responsibility of avoiding harm to those one serves, making it the best answer for this question.