Staying Silent About a Doctor's Mistake: Non-Maleficence

Legal & Ethical Issues · Question from the ATI RN Leadership 2023 Proctored Exam study set

Correct answer: Non-maleficence

Why this is the answer

Non-maleficence is the duty to "do no harm." By not reporting a mistake that could harm the patient, the nurse violates this principle.

The bigger concept

Ethical-principle items require exact definitions. Non-maleficence is the duty to do no harm — allowing a known error to reach the patient breaches it. Beneficence is actively doing good, fidelity is keeping promises, and veracity is truthfulness. When a stem describes preventable harm the nurse allowed to happen, non-maleficence is the answer. The professional response is to speak up using SBAR, and to escalate through the chain of command if the provider does not respond.

Related Legal & Ethical Issues practice questions

• Giving a Medication the Patient Refused: Battery
• Wrong Medication After No ID Check: Negligence
• Disclosing a Diagnosis to Family Without Consent: HIPAA
• Written Statement That Ruins a Reputation: Libel vs. Slander
• The 'Reasonable and Prudent Nurse' Standard: Negligence

Keep studying

← Back to the RN Leadership study guide hub · Practice all 21 Leadership questions free in the quiz engine