In this life-or-death situation, the ethical principle of beneficence—prioritizing the patient's survival—outweighs strict adherence to security protocols, as delaying the surgery would guarantee the patient's death. Bypassing protocols to initiate the automated surgery could save Liam O'Connor's life, though it risks eroding trust in AI systems and potential legal repercussions for the hospital, while negotiating with protesters introduces further delay, which is unacceptable given the urgency. Stakeholders including the patient, medical staff, and society benefit from preserving life, but this choice involves trade-offs like overriding consent and potential harm if the surgery fails, yet the immediate threat demands action.