Which ethical principle emphasizes doing no harm?

The ethical principle that emphasizes doing no harm is nonmaleficence. This principle is a fundamental concept in various professions, particularly in healthcare and counseling, as it guides practitioners to avoid causing harm to their clients or patients. Nonmaleficence underscores the importance of protecting individuals from injury or suffering, promoting the ethical obligation to refrain from actions that could potentially inflict harm—whether physical, emotional, or psychological.

In practice, this means that counselors and other professionals must carefully consider the potential negative consequences of their interventions and make choices that prioritize the well-being of those they serve. Alongside nonmaleficence, other ethical principles, such as beneficence (which promotes doing good and acting in the best interest of clients), can further guide professional conduct, but nonmaleficence specifically focuses on the avoidance of harm as a primary ethical responsibility.