The Importance Of Patient Autonomy

484 Words2 Pages

I believe the most compelling reasons to give patients maximum autonomy over decisions regarding their care is because patients should have self-ownership over their own body, and the quality of life. may seem dependent on the patient’s interest over the physician’s decision. The definition of patient autonomy is to have personal freedom of one 's decision that is free from both controlling interferences by others and from personal limitations that prevent meaningful choice. While on the other hand, a physician’s duty of “beneficence” is the hippocratic oath in which action that is done for the benefit of others such as help prevent or remove harms or to simply improve the situation of others. I believe patient autonomy over weighs prioritization over the medical professional’s duty due to the fact the main concern overall is over the patient’s health. The only person who should has governance and determination is the owner of the body (the patient), because anything short of that is considered paternalism (to have control over their decisions for their “benefice”) and that is seen as morally wrong, because it is the binding of one 's own will. For instance, when a woman decides to get …show more content…

Nevertheless, the patient’s health would also revolve around their current wellbeing and quality of life before and after treatment. An example of such would be end of life care. In Dax’s case, he was subjected to intense pain and suffering after the accident. Dax had also lost his legal authority to his mother, which gave the doctors full control to his treatment. The doctors may see that paternalistic care was for the greater good for Dax, Dax himself believed that living was an endless nightmare. Dax’s quality of life was so low to the point that death would rid him of all the pain and suffering that he had and later on. And because of paternalistic treatment, and the lack of Dax’s patient autonomy, he continues to suffer to this day. The deterioration of the man ridden of