Which term best describes a person's claim or entitlement based on law or ethics?

The term that best describes a person's claim or entitlement based on law or ethics is "rights." Rights are fundamental legal and moral entitlements that individuals possess, which allow them to act in ways that are protected by law or ethical standards. They can include civil rights, human rights, and legal rights, all of which serve to safeguard individual freedoms and ensure fair treatment. In a healthcare context, patients have rights that protect their autonomy, confidentiality, and access to care.

Obligations refer to duties or commitments that an individual or organization holds, often arising out of agreements or ethical standards, but they do not inherently represent a person's claim. Responsibility denotes the duty to act correctly or to manage certain tasks, which relates more to the actions one must take rather than what one is entitled to legally or ethically. Welfare often pertains to the health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group, but it does not specifically encapsulate the idea of claim or entitlement in the legal or ethical sense. Thus, "rights" is the most accurate choice in this context.