Reference — RT Career & Professional Practice
Ethical Principles in Respiratory Care
The ethical vocabulary of practice, defined — the four core principles plus the professional duties that round them out, each with a respiratory care example.
Written by Apex Respiratory Editorial Team
Educational use only. This material supports respiratory therapy education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, or physician orders. Always follow facility policies and current provider orders, and verify calculations independently before clinical use.
Overview
These principles structure ethical reasoning when values conflict. The first four are the classic pillars of bioethics; the rest are professional duties that support them.
Core Principles & Professional Duties
| Principle | Definition | RT Example |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomy | Respect the patient's right to make informed decisions about their own care. | An alert, informed patient declines BiPAP. |
| Beneficence | Act in the patient's best interest. | Recommending the therapy most likely to help. |
| Nonmaleficence | Do no harm (primum non nocere). | Avoiding excessive FiO₂ or ventilator-induced injury. |
| Justice | Treat patients fairly and allocate resources equitably. | Fair triage of limited ventilators. |
| Veracity | Be truthful. | Honest disclosure of a treatment error. |
| Fidelity | Keep commitments and stay loyal to the patient's interests. | Following through on promised care. |
| Confidentiality | Protect patient information (HIPAA). | Not discussing patients in public areas or on social media. |
Clinical Notes
- Autonomy vs. beneficence. Autonomy can conflict with beneficence — a patient may refuse a therapy that would help them.
- Limits of confidentiality. Confidentiality has legal limits, such as mandatory reporting.
- Ethics consultation. When principles conflict, an ethics committee or consult can help resolve the dilemma.
Related Resources
Clinical Documentation Formats ComparedRT Career & Professional Practice
Open →Ethics & Professionalism in Respiratory CareRT Career & Professional Practice
Open →Medical Documentation & ChartingRT Career & Professional Practice
Open →Respiratory Therapist Roles & Work SettingsRT Career & Professional Practice
Open →Sources
- Beauchamp TL, Childress JF. Principles of Biomedical Ethics. 8th ed. Oxford University Press; 2019.
- American Association for Respiratory Care. AARC Statement of Ethics and Professional Conduct. AARC.