donoharm

Donoharm, often written as do no harm, is a foundational ethical principle that emphasizes avoiding actions that injure others. It is commonly discussed alongside beneficence, the obligation to promote wellbeing.

In medical ethics, the concept is formalized as non-maleficence, one of the central principles of modern biomedical ethics. Its roots go back to the Hippocratic tradition, which urged physicians to refrain from harmful practices. Today, non-maleficence obliges clinicians to minimize risks and to choose interventions with the least likelihood of causing harm.

In clinical practice and research, donoharm guides consent, safety standards, and the assessment of risks versus benefits. It supports procedures such as risk reduction, monitoring for adverse effects, and oversight to protect patient or participant welfare.

The phrase has been adopted beyond medicine—in fields such as technology, public policy, and business—to remind professionals to avoid causing harm to users, communities, or the environment. Critics note that the rule is sometimes vague and may conflict with other aims, requiring careful judgment and sometimes trade-offs between harms and potential benefits, autonomy, or justice.

Related concepts include non-maleficence, beneficence, the Hippocratic Oath, informed consent, and ethical frameworks for AI and health technology.