Which term describes someone who defends or pleads a cause on behalf of another, such as a patient?

• A. Beneficence
• B. Advocacy
• C. Autonomy
• D. Justice

Answer: (B)

Advocacy is the term that fits this description. It refers to defending or pleading a cause on behalf of another, such as a patient, to ensure their rights, preferences, and best interests are respected within the healthcare setting. In practice, advocacy means speaking up for what the patient wants—facilitating communication, ensuring informed consent, arranging access to needed services, and addressing safety or quality concerns when the patient cannot do so themselves. While beneficence guides doing good for the patient, autonomy highlights the patient’s right to make their own choices, and justice focuses on fair treatment; advocacy is the active process of standing up for the patient’s rights and wishes within those ethical principles.