Sue Is a Social Worker Whose Client Mary, an 82-Year-Old

Sue is a social worker whose client Mary, an 82-year-old woman, has been hospitalized following a fall at home. Mary has been living independently and wants to return home. Mary's children are very concerned that it is no longer safe for Mary to continue to live independently in her own home. Sue shares some of the same concern as Mary's family members, but Mary is alert and oriented and cognitively able to understand the risks of returning home. The family has requested a meeting without the patient present. Which of Beauchamp and Childress's principles of bioethics would help guide Sue as she decides what to do?

A) Principle of autonomy
B) Principle of beneficence
C) Principle of nonmaleficience
D) Principle of justice