Biomedical Ethics and Paternalism Essays

Biomedical Ethics and Paternalism Essays Biomedical Ethics and Paternalism Paper Biomedical Ethics and Paternalism Paper The temptation of paternalism is widely felt in almost all arenas of human life with paternalists advancing other people’s interests like safety, health, or life in general at their liberty’s expense. The idea here is that these paternalists assume or take it for granted that they are more capable of making â€Å"wiser decisions† than those which would be made by people they represent. In the context of health care, paternalism involves any decision, action, policy made by; physician or government or other care giver/s, or rule that overrides the patient’s value system and own beliefs without respect of the patient’s autonomy, as it dictates what should be in the best interests of the patient. There are negative connotations that usually are attached to this concept in the sense that it is only the competent patient’s right to evaluate and determine what is or should be in his/her own best interests (Roberts, 2002, p.18). The authority appeals indicate that this paternalism model is the only realistic and appropriate one that should determine the relationship between the patient and the doctor. The theory goes like the doctor is the medical expert, in which case he should wholly determine the prescriptions for the best interests of the patient, sometimes without any consultation or proper disclosure to the patient. This is, to my opinion, a lit bit flawed because it is not in all circumstances that the patient should be perceived naà ¯ve to such an extent that he/she is denied the fundamental right to know the best interests and decision-making participation necessary for his/her medical welfare (Heta, 1991, p.11).   As far as it is necessary to trust one’s doctor, and as much as the doctor is relatively significant to the patient’s healing process, the patient, if one satisfies the under mentioned legal requirements, should not be denied medical autonomy, but rather be guided in the whole process. Due to the perceived superiority resulting from their medical expertise, which is supposedly not possessed by the patient, healthcare providers and physicians are bestowed with the obligation of acting beneficially on behalf of the patient as they recommend treatments that will truly be beneficial to the patient. Physicians and other professionals in this field are however not allowed any rights to make final decisions on behalf of the patients (Brazier, 1991, p.56). Patients who are competent enough have the provision to provide or withhold informed consent to recommended medical procedures by their physicians, in exercise of their right to advance their individual welfare and health. There are several principles that are associated with paternalism in biomedical realms. The first among these is the principle of competency. On competency grounds, it is presumed every adult has full legal rights to freely exercise responsibilities up and until such a time when he/she is determined in a court of law and declared otherwise. The law presumes all adults to be competent and the proof thereof to discredit their competency is solely the burden of those claiming incompetence of such adults (Buchanan, 1990, p.23). Ordinarily, minors (those under 18) are by legal definition not competent in their own right to give informed consent or make major health care decisions on their own without the consent of the parent/s or their guardians for that matter.