Which statement best captures the concept of autonomy in bioethics?

• A. The capacity to be self-governing and to make decisions based on personal values
• B. The obligation to do no harm
• C. The goal of maximizing total happiness
• D. The obligation to follow authority

Answer: (A)

Autonomy in bioethics means that individuals have the capacity to govern themselves and make decisions based on their own values. It emphasizes self-determination, informed choice, and voluntary actions about one’s health or participation in research, even when others might disagree.

This statement best captures autonomy because it directly points to self-governance and making decisions rooted in personal values, which are the essential elements of respecting a person’s agency and rights.

Other ideas describe different ethical commitments: doing no harm aligns with nonmaleficence, aiming to maximize happiness reflects utilitarian reasoning, and following authority represents obedience or paternalism. These do not center the individual’s own decision-making and values in the same way autonomy does.