To follow ethical principles means to act according to fundamental moral standards that guide behavior and decision-making to ensure fairness, respect, and the well-being of others. These principles serve as a framework for evaluating actions and making choices that are morally right and just. Key ethical principles commonly recognized include:
- Autonomy: Respecting individuals' rights to make informed decisions about their own lives, honoring their self-determination and privacy
- Nonmaleficence: Avoiding harm to others, ensuring that actions do not cause injury or risk without protection
- Beneficence: Actively promoting good, preventing harm, and contributing to the welfare and well-being of others
- Justice: Ensuring fairness and equitable treatment, distributing benefits and burdens fairly without discrimination
- Fidelity (Integrity): Maintaining trustworthiness, honesty, and loyalty in relationships and commitments
Following ethical principles involves applying these core values consistently in personal, professional, and societal contexts to guide responsible and morally sound behavior. It means making decisions that respect others’ rights, minimize harm, promote good, and treat people fairly and with dignity
