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Patient Welfare

Meaning

Patient welfare is the fundamental ethical and clinical imperative that places the overall well-being, safety, and health interests of the individual patient as the highest priority in all healthcare decisions and medical research. This concept encompasses both the physical and psychological health of the patient, mandating that clinical interventions, including hormonal therapies, are not only effective but also minimize risk and respect the patient’s autonomy and quality of life. Upholding patient welfare is the cornerstone of the physician-patient relationship and is enshrined in medical codes of conduct.