An X-ray technician witnesses a nurse diagnosing a medical problem for a patient. Which of the seven principles of health care ethics has this nurse violated?

A. justice
B. non-maleficence
C. role fidelity
D. veracity
E. beneficence

C. role fidelity

All health care practitioners have a specific scope of practice for which they are licensed, certified, or registered, and from which the law says they may not deviate. In addition to the laws that affect scope of practice, it is a basic ethical principle that a practitioner must be true to (have fidelity) to his or her role. Justice refers to what is due an individual. Non-maleficence means doing no harm to the patient. Veracity is truth-telling. Beneficence is helping people stay healthy.