**Core Concept**
Autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice are the fundamental principles of medical ethics. These principles guide healthcare professionals in making decisions that balance the needs and rights of patients with the responsibilities of healthcare providers.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Each of the principles of medical ethics has a specific definition and application in clinical practice. Autonomy refers to the patient's right to make informed decisions about their care, beneficence involves providing care that benefits the patient, non-maleficence requires avoiding harm to the patient, and justice involves fairness and equity in the distribution of healthcare resources.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** This option is not a principle of ethics, but rather a concept that may be related to ethics. While it is true that informed consent is a key aspect of medical ethics, it is not one of the fundamental principles.
* **Option B:** This option is incorrect because autonomy is indeed a principle of ethics. It is the patient's right to make informed decisions about their care.
* **Option C:** This option is incorrect because non-maleficence is indeed a principle of ethics. It is the duty of healthcare providers to avoid causing harm to patients.
* **Option D:** This option is incorrect because justice is indeed a principle of ethics. It involves fairness and equity in the distribution of healthcare resources.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The principles of medical ethics are often remembered using the acronym ABHNJ, which stands for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.

**Correct Answer:** A. Informed consent is a process by which patients are educated about their medical options and provide their consent for treatment, but it is not a principle of ethics.