Which term refers to the system of rules and principles guiding moral decision-making?

Which term refers to the system of rules and principles guiding moral decision-making?

• A. Morals
• B. Ethics
• C. Nonmaleficence
• D. Beneficence

Answer: (B)

Ethics is the system of rules and principles guiding moral decision-making. It provides a structured framework for evaluating actions and deciding what should be done in ambiguous or difficult situations, such as in healthcare where patient rights, confidentiality, and professional duties must be weighed. Morals, on the other hand, are personal beliefs about right and wrong shaped by culture, upbringing, and individual values. Nonmaleficence and beneficence are specific ethical principles—do no harm and act to benefit others—that guide decisions within that framework, but they are parts of ethics rather than the overall system itself. So ethics best fits the description of a system of rules and principles for making moral choices.

Ethics is the system of rules and principles guiding moral decision-making. It provides a structured framework for evaluating actions and deciding what should be done in ambiguous or difficult situations, such as in healthcare where patient rights, confidentiality, and professional duties must be weighed. Morals, on the other hand, are personal beliefs about right and wrong shaped by culture, upbringing, and individual values. Nonmaleficence and beneficence are specific ethical principles—do no harm and act to benefit others—that guide decisions within that framework, but they are parts of ethics rather than the overall system itself. So ethics best fits the description of a system of rules and principles for making moral choices.