Jean Luc Lindor. Phi 3633 Bioethics. First Paper Assignment.

Goldman’s critique of medical paternalism demonstrates the right for patient autonomy and decision to choose a treatment best suited to their needs and interests. Initially, physicians would not announce any form of cancer to their patients, as it was believed to result in physiological distress. Luckily, medical paternalism continues to be rejected in medical situations; the topics of outcomes research, scientific evidence, and court decisions help correct patient decisions on the best treatment.

The ethical issues involved in this topic include age limits, medical ethics, informed consent, and autonomy. It is unethical and immoral to allow adolescents to make their own medical decisions, because the judgment and capacity to make coherent decisions is unstable. However, adolescents should be involved and have a voice in the process of decision making, nonetheless I believe that the concluding medical decision should be made by the guardian and the doctor. An adolescent is between the ages of thirteen and nineteen. Society permits the legal determination of decision making for health care at the age of eighteen years. It is very important to consider developmental issues which will influence both reasoning and information processing, the brain not being fully developed causes a sense of a lost identity, and low self esteem challenges adolescents to develop a logical decision. An adolescent brain is not yet fully developed, the lack of grey matter and an

Paternalism is the belief that someone knows 'better' than the individual him or herself what is the right way for that individual to live. For example, for centuries, many men had paternalistic attitudes about middle-class women, deeming it unseemly for women to work. Paternalism was used by self-interested whites to justify enslaving African-Americans for 'their own good,' or to colonize non-white people to 'carry the white man's burden.'

In our society and classrooms, more often than not, it is argued that when a physician and their patient have a paternalistic relationship, it is deemed unacceptable and needs to be addressed. However, Komrad argues that a paternalistic relationship can actually be a beneficial factor between a physician and their patient. Komrad creates the concept of a limited paternalism where it “preserves an individual’s freedom as much as possible in the hope of eventually broadening it” (42). One of the main components of this paternalism is acknowledging that from the very beginning of a physician-patient relationship, it is an asymmetrical relationship because of the patient’s already diminished autonomy. A patient has an automatic diminished autonomy

"the attitude or actions of a person, organization, etc., that protects people and gives them what they need but does not give them any responsibility or freedom of church." although this definition is one where the principle of autonomy seems to be violated, the people and organization works towards providing good and avoiding harm towards others. Paternalism seeks to choose what is good for people and avoid harming them, basically making decisions for people for "their own good." Another principle that can underlie paternalism is that of utility which seeks to provide more good over bad for all

In the Bioethics text, one of the statements that I favored states "Paternalism is, therefore, justified: doctors may sometimes override patients' prima facie rights to information about risks and treatments or about their own conditions in order to prevent harm to their health. (p. 107) The general values and principles are to have standards and never lose sight of them, win or lose, good, bad or indifferent. We as humans want the positive results and things to work according to plan. When things don't happen the way we want them to, instincts are to be defensive or slighted in our decision making.

3. If the hospital ethics committee allows the procedure to take place, Mr. Jamison’s parents will not only feel like their son’s rights are destroyed, but also as if their future grandchild will not develop properly in their childhood or adult life without a father. However, the medical staff themselves will feel like they were able to create a child and provide Mrs. Jamison with her wish; while Mrs. Jamison herself will feel happy to be able to receive the child her and her husband have been trying long to conceive. The social worker will continue to support Mrs. Jamison through single parenthood and try to help Mr. Jamison’s parents with the

The medical profession, both in practice and in research cannot itself be self-regulating. Sadly, personal morality is simply insufficient for professional medical ethics. The evolution of the

Autonomy - Patient advocacy is one of the many critically important roles of nurses. They not only provide physical care but also provide emotional support to their patients. As the state of the patient is very vulnerable it is the nurses who serve the purpose of uplifting their morale. Hence, they take considerable care of the fact that the autonomous decisions of the patient aren’t compromised because respect for autonomy is one of the essential fundamental guidelines of clinical ethics. For the concerned physician and the nurses, respect for autonomy also includes creating the optimal conditons necessary for autonomous self determination besides respect for the patients’ right to taking decisions for the self. All individuals consult a physician or go to the hospital seeking for help and guidance in deciding for their health simply because they do not have necessary knowledge required to make decisions. Patients need to be adviced, calmed and all their isssues should be addressed to. Nurses have to take care that the patient doesn’t makes choices under any sort of constraint. In this case, autonomy is being breeched as the patient’s choice to take painkillers is interfered due to directions to the staff from her family, failing to comply with which they warned to take legal actions. The hospital staff should have instead consulted with the VCAT for the appointment of a guardian who after proper knowledge about the patient from the hospital end could have taken a more

When one becomes a physician or dentist they are sworn under the ancient Hippocratic Oath to abide by the principle that they are to alleviate suffering and prevent further disease as depicted in the phrase “I will keep them from harm and injustice ”(pg 70). In the case of The Dentist and Patient autonomy, this phrase of the Hippocratic Oath indicates that the actions of Patrick M to exercise his patient autonomy are absolutely justified given he has the resources to fund the Endodontist and is fully aware of the risks the Root Canal procedure entails. Despite how medical professionals often use “normative model” which is depicted as “paternalism that tends to concentrate on care rather than respect the patients’ needs rather than their rights,”(

The article discussed whether truth telling to a patient is always the best policy. The author states that in early part of the 20th century paternalism was dominate influence in western medicine. However over time as treatment options have become less limited, autonomy on the part of the patient has became a predominate aspect of medical care. However, the author raises the question as top whether this is always the best choice. Obviously autonomy over our bodies is held in the highest regard, but the question is delegating autonomy appropriate. This particularly if patient is unable to cope or it maybe deleterious to a patients condition and outcome. She also cites the problems consent which is usually thought be directly from a patient if competent and over 18 year

According to Fleming (2005), the term paternalism originates from the word patriarchy, which denotes fatherly protection in exchange for loyalty and compliance. Aycan (2006) stated that the superior is responsible for providing care, protection, and guidance to the subordinates in issues related to work and their private lives, while the subordinates, in return, are expected to be devoted and submissive to the superior.

Pence, Gregory E. Classic Cases in Medical Ethics: Accounts of Cases That Have Shaped Medical Ethics, with Philosophical, Legal, and Historical Bacgrounds. Boston, Mass: McGraw-Hill, 2004.

Beneficence and the Principle of Respect for Autonomy in order to determine an appropriate response for the doctor to act upon.

Across the health care profession, there appears to be a consensus on the respect that should be accorded the decisions that are made by the patients on how they should be taken care of medically. The medical practitioners