Which ethical principle is primarily concerned with fairness in healthcare delivery?

The principle primarily concerned with fairness in healthcare delivery is justice. Justice in healthcare refers to the equitable distribution of benefits and burdens, ensuring that all individuals have fair access to medical resources, treatments, and services. It emphasizes the idea that everyone should receive equal consideration and that socioeconomic, cultural, and other barriers should not hinder access to necessary healthcare.

This principle seeks to address disparities in health outcomes and supports the notion that individuals should not be discriminated against based on arbitrary factors such as race, gender, or income level. Justice involves both the distribution of healthcare resources and the way in which healthcare policies are formulated and implemented to ensure that all patients receive the care they need without bias.

In contrast, other ethical principles play different roles in healthcare decision-making. Nonmaleficence focuses on the obligation to avoid harm to patients, beneficence emphasizes the duty to promote good and act in the best interest of patients, and autonomy highlights the importance of respecting a patient's right to make informed decisions about their own healthcare. While all these principles are essential in the practice of medicine, justice specifically addresses the concept of fairness in the context of healthcare delivery.