What is the term for the duty of a healthcare worker to protect and advocate for their patient?

The term that refers to the duty of a healthcare worker to protect and advocate for their patient is patient advocacy. This concept emphasizes the importance of ensuring that patients' rights, needs, and preferences are respected and fulfilled within the healthcare system. Patient advocates work to promote the best interests of patients, facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers, and help navigate complex healthcare systems, ensuring that patients receive appropriate care and support.

Patient advocacy also involves educating patients about their options and empowering them to make informed decisions regarding their health. It is a vital component in ensuring ethical healthcare delivery, reinforcing the notion that patients should be active participants in their own care.

Other terms like scope of practice, beneficence, and non-malfeasance relate to different aspects of healthcare ethics and the responsibilities of healthcare providers, but they do not specifically encapsulate the act of standing up for patients' rights and needs in the same way that patient advocacy does.