During a home visit, an OT student's elderly client insists on performing a bathtub transfer without safety equipment. Which ethical principle is MOST at risk of being violated in this situation?

In this scenario, the ethical principle that is most at risk of being violated is nonmaleficence, which refers to the obligation to not cause harm to clients. The elderly client's insistence on performing a bathtub transfer without safety equipment poses a significant risk of injury. As a healthcare provider, the occupational therapy student has a responsibility to ensure the client's safety and to take steps to prevent harm. Allowing the client to engage in potentially dangerous behavior without the appropriate safety measures could lead to serious consequences such as falls or injuries, thus violating the principle of nonmaleficence.

While autonomy is a relevant consideration—since the client has the right to make their own choices—prioritizing the prevention of harm aligns more closely with the ethical duty of the therapist. The other principles, such as justice and veracity, do not pertain directly to the immediate risk of physical harm implied in the situation of performing a bathtub transfer without safety equipment. Therefore, in this context, nonmaleficence is indeed the principle that is most at risk of violation.