Which principle guides dental assistants in making decisions that harm the least?

The principle that guides dental assistants in making decisions that harm the least is nonmaleficence. This principle emphasizes the importance of avoiding harm to patients while providing care. In the context of dental assisting, it means that practitioners must consider the potential negative consequences of their actions and strive to minimize any potential harm that could arise during procedures or patient interactions.

Nonmaleficence underlines the ethical responsibility of dental professionals to ensure that their practices do not adversely affect patients’ health and well-being. This principle is foundational in healthcare, reinforcing the idea that it is not enough to do good (beneficence); practitioners must also actively avoid harming those they serve.

In contrast, beneficence focuses on promoting the well-being of the patient, justice addresses fairness and equality in care, and autonomy relates to respecting a patient's rights to make their own decisions. While all these principles are important in dental ethics, nonmaleficence directly correlates with the intention of reducing harm in decision-making.