If a patient does not have an advance directive or has not expressed his wishes regarding end of life care, what ethical principle may help the family to make the right decision?
a. Autonomy
b. Fidelity
c. Beneficence
d. Veracity
ANS: C
Beneficence may be the best principle to apply in this situation because the nurse should always advocate for the patient. If the outcome for this patient is known, it may be in the best interest of the patient to allow a quiet painless death. The other options are ethical principles that do not ap-ply.
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