In recent years, there has been a shifting perspective in medical ethics regarding beneficence. Beneficence, defined as acting in the best interests of patients and promoting their well-being, originally embraced what would be described in today’s world as a more paternalistic approach where a healthcare professional would decide the best course of action. The concept of beneficence has now evolved to incorporate more patient-centered models of health care. Beneficence is now viewed through the lens of patient autonomy. Ethicists prioritize the patient’s right, first and foremost, to make decisions about his or her own care, even if these decisions may differ from what a healthcare provider might believe is “beneficial.”
New trends also focus on the need to balance beneficence with other important ethical principles such as equity and justice, especially when dealing with issues of limited resources, and ensuring that all individuals have fair and equitable access to quality health care. Moreover, making determinations about which health care options promote beneficence can become clouded given increasing use of AI technologies, genomics and precision medicine. It is important in this era of healthcare to carefully weigh potential benefits, harms and ethical implications when looking at technology-enhanced medical options and treatments. Addressing the complexities of beneficence in modern healthcare requires extensive communication and collaborative efforts among physicians, researchers, ethicists and policymakers alike to arrive at just determinations of true beneficence.