What ethical principle is violated when an automatic intraoperative suspension of a do-not-resuscitate decision occurs?

• A. Patient autonomy
• B. Beneficence
• C. Justice
• D. Non-maleficence

Answer: (A)

The correct answer is patient autonomy, as this principle emphasizes the right of patients to make informed decisions about their own healthcare, including giving or withholding consent for medical interventions. When an automatic intraoperative suspension of a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) decision occurs, it undermines patient autonomy because the healthcare team is overriding the previously expressed wishes of the patient regarding their care.

Patients have the right to dictate their treatment preferences, especially in end-of-life situations, and a DNR decision is a clear expression of a patient's desire not to receive certain life-sustaining treatments. Ignoring this directive can lead to a loss of trust in the healthcare system and may cause patients to feel that their values and decisions are not respected.

Beneficence refers to the obligation to act in the best interest of the patient, while non-maleficence focuses on the duty to do no harm. Although these principles are also relevant to the scenario, the violation of patient autonomy is the most direct concern when a DNR order is suspended. Justice relates more to fair treatment and access to resources, which is less applicable in this specific context of individual patient rights and decisions.