There are many different principles and frameworks for understanding medical ethics, but one widely-used framework includes five core principles:

Autonomy: This principle holds that patients have the right to make their own decisions about their medical care, and that healthcare professionals should respect patients’ decisions.

Non-maleficence: This principle requires healthcare professionals to do no harm to their patients.

Beneficence: This principle requires healthcare professionals to act in the best interests of their patients, and to do what they can to help their patients.

Justice: This principle requires that healthcare resources be distributed fairly, and that everyone has access to the medical care they need.

Respect for Persons: This principle requires healthcare professionals to respect the dignity and autonomy of their patients, and to treat them with compassion and kindness.

These principles are not always easy to apply in practice, and there may be conflicts between them in certain situations. Healthcare professionals must often make difficult ethical decisions, and may seek guidance from colleagues, professional organizations, or ethical frameworks to help them navigate these challenges.