Autonomy, Information, and Paternalism in Clinical Communication

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This article refers to:

Empowerment Failure: How Shortcomings in Physician Communication Unwittingly Undermine Patient Autonomy

Notes

1. Intentionality means that the decision is made purposefully, not by accident; understanding means that the patient has sufficient information and can make sense of it in a way that supports his or her decision making; and noncontrol refers to the absence of manipulation, coercion, or undue influence.

2. For the purposes of considering the relationship between autonomy and paternalism, a distinction between strong and weak paternalism is useful. Strong paternalism is intervening to override someone's autonomously chosen goals for the kind of life they wish for themselves; by contrast, weak paternalism is overturning a person's (first-order) choices in order to help them achieve their autonomously chosen life goals.