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Non-Maleficence

Meaning

Non-Maleficence is a foundational ethical principle in clinical practice that obligates a healthcare provider to actively avoid inflicting harm, injury, or suffering upon the patient. It is often summarized by the maxim, “First, do no harm,” establishing a primary threshold for all medical interventions and therapeutic decisions. This principle demands that clinicians rigorously weigh the potential risks of any procedure, medication, or protocol against the anticipated benefits before proceeding. In the context of hormonal health, non-maleficence guides the careful selection of dosing, the monitoring of side effects, and the responsible use of potent biological agents.