Which principle requires delivering fair and equal treatment to all patients?

• A. Nonmaleficence
• B. Justice
• C. Fidelity
• D. Ethics

Answer: (B)

Delivering fair and equal treatment to all patients is the principle of justice in nursing ethics. Justice centers on fairness, impartiality, and nondiscrimination in how care is accessed and delivered. It means that each patient should have equitable opportunities to receive care and that decisions about who gets what services or resources are based on need rather than personal attributes such as race, gender, or socioeconomic status. Importantly, justice also supports addressing disparities and advocating for vulnerable groups to ensure fair outcomes for everyone.

Nonmaleficence is about not causing harm, fidelity is about keeping promises and maintaining trust, and ethics is the broader study of moral principles. While all are important to practice, they do not specify the obligation to treat all patients fairly and equitably the way justice does.