Elizabeth Bouvia's request to starve herself due to severe disability raises which ethical principle most directly?

• A. Autonomy
• B. Non-maleficence
• C. Justice
• D. Beneficence

Answer: (A)

Autonomy is being tested here. Elizabeth Bouvia’s request to starve herself Centers on the patient’s right to self-determination in medical decisions—that is, the ability to decide what happens to one’s own body, including refusing life-sustaining treatment, when the person is competent and informed. The ethical obligation is to respect that choice, even if others believe continuing treatment would be better or less harmful. While non-maleficence (do no harm) and beneficence (act in the patient’s best interest) and justice (fairness) are important principles in general, the direct issue in this case is the patient's autonomous right to refuse treatment.