What are the 4 pillars of medical ethics?

Ethics is a core part of dentistry, as dentists regularly deal with vulnerable individuals and sensitive personal information. The four pillars of ethics provide a framework to guide clinical decision-making, helping dentists navigate difficult situations consistently and professionally.

The four pillars are:

• Beneficence — acting in the patient’s best interests at all times.
• Non-maleficence — the principle of “do no harm.”
• Autonomy — respecting a patient’s right to make their own decisions about their care.
• Justice — ensuring fairness and equality within the healthcare system.

In your interview, make sure you can name all four pillars and clearly explain what each one means. You should also relate each pillar to dentistry specifically, and, where possible, give real examples of how you’ve seen them applied during work experience. Going further and reflecting on a personal experience where you applied one or more of these principles yourself will also strengthen your answer significantly.

How the four pillars apply to dentistry

• Beneficence — working to improve a patient’s overall oral and general health.
• Non-maleficence — avoiding any treatment that could worsen a patient’s condition.
• Autonomy — respecting a patient’s right to refuse treatment, even if you believe it’s not in their best interests.
• Justice — ensuring patients from all socio-economic backgrounds receive fair and equal access to treatment.

Suggested structure for this question

• Name the four pillars of ethics and briefly explain what each one means.
• Explain why these principles are relevant to dentistry, linking each pillar to a specific aspect of clinical practice.
• Outline an example from your work experience where you saw one (or more) of these pillars being applied by a dentist.
• Reflect on a personal experience where you had to apply one of these principles yourself, even outside of a clinical setting.
• Conclude by relating this back to your own future practice — show that you understand these aren’t just abstract concepts, but principles you will apply in every clinical decision you make as a dentist.