Professional Responsibility State Practice Exam

Beneficence is best described as which of the following?

1. Avoiding harm

2. Doing good

3. Ensuring privacy

4. Community stewardship

The correct answer is: Doing good

Beneficence is best understood as the ethical principle of "doing good." In the context of professional responsibility, beneficence involves taking actions that promote the welfare and best interests of clients or individuals. This principle is central to many professions, particularly in healthcare and law, where practitioners have a duty to act in ways that benefit those they serve. For instance, in a legal setting, a lawyer might engage in beneficent behavior by advocating for a client's rights and needs, actively seeking outcomes that support the client's best interests. This principle opposes merely avoiding harm, as it requires not only the absence of detrimental actions but also a proactive approach toward enhancing the well-being of others. While avoiding harm is a critical concept in ethical practice, this falls under the principle of nonmaleficence, which focuses on preventing negative outcomes rather than actively promoting positive ones. Ensuring privacy relates more closely to confidentiality and respect for a client's autonomy, and community stewardship emphasizes the responsibility professionals hold toward the communities they serve rather than the individual good of clients. Therefore, the essence of beneficence is captured most accurately by the notion of actively doing good.