Biomedical Ethics

Front 1

Right to control future

Back 1

Individuals are the best judge of their own interests which may depend upon personal value ordering

Front 2

Medical Paternalism

Back 2

Overriding rights or freedoms of individuals for their own good.

Front 3

Justified Conditions for Paternalism

Back 3

- Contexts in which they can be assumed to act against their own interests, values, or true preferences

- Acting out of ignorance, fear, carelessness, depression or other irrational motives

- Choice is not truely free when determined by irrational motivation that is inconsistent with long-range preferences

Front 4

Argument for Paternalism

Back 4

1. Disclosure is sometimes detrimental to patient's health because it may increase likelihood of depression, physical deterioration, or choice of inoptimal treatment

2. Health and prolonged life can be assumed to have priority among preferences.

3. Worsening health or hastening death is contrary to patient's own true value orderings

4. Therefore paternalism is sometimes justified.

Front 5

Determining Value Ordering

Back 5

1. Value ordering is known to be that of the person himself/herself

2. It is uncontroversially the value ordering of any rational person

- Quality and significance of life may take prescedence over maximal longevity

- Doctor will not know the true interests of the patient as well as the patient him/herself

- Likelihood of error is probable

- Self-determination must be respected