In the principle of justice in medicine, what is recommended when therapy is nonbeneficial and not aligned with patient goals?

• A. Focus on comfort and spiritual support
• B. Always pursue maximum treatment regardless of goals
• C. Disregard patient values
• D. Focus on financial targets

Answer: (A)

When therapy is unlikely to help and doesn’t align with what the patient wants, the recommended approach is to shift to comfort-focused care and provide spiritual or existential support. This aligns with justice by using resources to relieve suffering and honor the patient’s goals and values rather than pursuing interventions that won’t meaningfully benefit them. It also respects autonomy, supports dignity, and helps avoid the harms of futile treatment. Pursuing maximum treatment in every case can overwhelm patients and resources, disregarding what matters to the patient; ignoring patient values erodes trust and autonomy; and focusing on financial targets has no place in ethical patient care.