Which of the following best describes the ethical principle of Justice?

• A. Autonomy
• B. Beneficence
• C. Justice
• D. Nonmaleficence

Answer: (C)

Justice in nursing ethics means fairness in how care, attention, and resources are distributed among patients. It emphasizes treating people impartially and providing access to services regardless of personal characteristics like race, income, or background. In practice, this means making decisions about who gets limited resources—such as beds, medications, or tests—based on need and potential benefit, not on status or privilege. It also supports advocating for policies and practices that reduce disparities so everyone has an equal opportunity to receive appropriate care.

Autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence each focus on different duties: respecting a patient’s right to make their own choices, promoting good, and avoiding harm. Justice stands apart by centering fairness and equity in every level of care, from individual interactions to system-wide resource allocation. For example, when resources are scarce, a fair approach would allocate them using clear, objective criteria that maximize benefit for the most people, rather than favoring certain groups.