Which healthcare ethics term refers to the obligation to answer for one's actions?

• A. Accountability
• B. Fidelity
• C. Beneficence
• D. Autonomy

Answer: (A)

Accountability is the obligation to answer for one’s actions and the choices made in care. In healthcare, this means a nurse or clinician must own what they did, be prepared to justify their decisions, and face the consequences if care was mishandled or errors occurred. It also encompasses reporting mistakes, documenting actions accurately, and taking steps to improve practice so similar errors don’t happen again. This focus on responsibility and being answerable to patients, colleagues, and regulatory bodies is what sets accountability apart.

Fidelity, by contrast, centers on loyalty and keeping promises or commitments to patients and colleagues. Beneficence is about promoting the patient’s well-being and acting in their best interest. Autonomy respects a patient’s right to make their own informed choices. Each principle plays a role in ethical care, but the specific idea of being answerable for one’s actions is what best matches accountability.