Deconstructing paternalism--what serves the patient best?

Full Abstract

On the motion that "medical paternalism serves the patient best", this essay reviews current arguments on medical paternalism vs. patient autonomy. Citing medico-ethical texts and journals and selected real-life applications like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and the advanced medical directive (AMD), the essay argues that medical paternalism cannot serve the patient best insofar as current debates limit themselves to "who" wields the decision-making power. Such debates side-step "what" the patient's best interests are. The essay further argues through the case of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and acupuncture in particular, that the current dominant Western school of thought excludes other forms of "alternative" treatment through medical paternalism.

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Author information

Author/s: Stan, N H S S (NH);

Affiliation: Ngee Ann Polytechnic. noelbynature(-atsign-)pacific.net.sg

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Singapore medical journal (Singapore Med J), published in Singapore. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Mar; vol 43 (issue 3) : pp 148-51

Dates: Created 2002/05/13; Completed 2002/05/24; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12005342, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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