What is the primary duty of a healthcare professional?

• A. Patients
• B. Colleagues
• C. Employers
• D. Insurers

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that patient welfare is the top priority for healthcare professionals. This obligation comes from ethical principles like beneficence (acting for the patient’s good), nonmaleficence (avoiding harm), and respect for patient autonomy (honoring patients’ own choices and rights). In real-world care, this means delivering safe, competent treatment, communicating clearly, obtaining informed consent, and protecting patient confidentiality. Relationships with colleagues, employer requirements, and insurer policies all guide how care is delivered, but they should support the patient’s best interests and never override them. When in doubt, the patient’s well-being and rights guide the decision, which is why the primary duty is to patients.