Document Detail


Rethinking paternalism: an exploration of responses to the Israel Patient's Rights Act 1996.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21450745     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Questions of patient autonomy have formed an important part of ethical debate in medicine from at least the post-war period onwards. Although initially important as a counterweight to widespread medical paternalism, recent years have seen a reaction against a widely perceived 'triumph of autonomy'. In particular, competent patients' refusal of life-saving or clearly beneficial treatment presents complex dilemmas for both healthcare professionals and ethicists. Discussion of the mechanism provided by the Israel Patient's Rights Act of 1996 for ethics committees to override refusal of treatment by such patients has provided several examples in which it seems an obligation to benefit the patient can outweigh concerns regarding respect for their autonomy. However, such analyses as have been undertaken so far may be seen to omit important elements of the moral decision-making process that takes place even when the latter appears to 'win out'. In addition to helping better prepare clinicians to meet such challenges in the future, a fuller appreciation of those elements that are present in justified cases of coercive treatment may enable them to arrive at a better understanding of what autonomy itself can mean in a medical context.
Authors:
Simon Waltho
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-3-30
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of medical ethics     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1473-4257     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-3-31     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7513619     Medline TA:  J Med Ethics     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
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