In an effort to offset the effects of paternalism, there are some medical ethicists and physicians who have proposed a model of patient autonomy for the physician-patient relationship. Since paternalism does not recognize the rights of adults to self-determination and autonomy does not venerate the principle of beneficence that influences physicians to feel that acting on behalf of others is essential to their craft: neither paternalism or autonomy are adequate characterizations of the physician-patient relationship. Therefore, a model of physician conscience is proposed that summarizes the best features of both paternalism and autonomy. This model encourages patients and physicians to actively exchange ideas, explicitly negotiate differences, and share power and influence to serve the patient’s best interests. There is an intense collaboration between patient and physician so that patients can autonomously make choices that are based on recommendations offered by the physician: allowing for the best decision to be made that is based on both medical facts and the physician’s
In an effort to offset the effects of paternalism, there are some medical ethicists and physicians who have proposed a model of patient autonomy for the physician-patient relationship. Since paternalism does not recognize the rights of adults to self-determination and autonomy does not venerate the principle of beneficence that influences physicians to feel that acting on behalf of others is essential to their craft: neither paternalism or autonomy are adequate characterizations of the physician-patient relationship. Therefore, a model of physician conscience is proposed that summarizes the best features of both paternalism and autonomy. This model encourages patients and physicians to actively exchange ideas, explicitly negotiate differences, and share power and influence to serve the patient’s best interests. There is an intense collaboration between patient and physician so that patients can autonomously make choices that are based on recommendations offered by the physician: allowing for the best decision to be made that is based on both medical facts and the physician’s