Provide an ethical rationale for including patients in treatment planning and give an example.

• A. Treating patients without their input to speed up care.
• B. Beneficence alone justifies excluding patient preferences.
• C. Respect for autonomy and beneficence; example: choosing between treatment options after discussing risks and benefits with the patient.
• D. Autonomy is not relevant in treatment planning.

Answer: (C)

Respecting a patient’s autonomy while aiming for beneficence is central to ethical treatment planning. Involving the patient means they have a say in decisions about their care and receive the information needed to understand options. This collaboration helps ensure the chosen path aligns with the patient’s values and life context, which in turn supports better adherence and outcomes because the patient feels ownership over the decision. The example reflects this: when faced with treatment options, the clinician clearly explains the risks and benefits and then works with the patient to choose the option that best fits their goals and circumstances.

Excluding patient input might seem to speed things up, but it undermines autonomy and can erode trust and willingness to follow through. Autonomy is relevant in treatment planning, and beneficence alone does not justify sidelining patient preferences.