Counterpoint: is patient control of treatment always appropriate?

Abstract

Health care providers often find tension and even conflict between what they consider is important for the patient to do and what the patient wants or decides to do. The current trend among patients is to assume more autonomy and freedom in the process of their care. Yet situations that commonly arise between the provider and the patient prompt the patient to refuse to accept or acquiesce to the provider's wishes or choices that are perceived by the provider to be in the patient's best interest. Under what circumstances should the provider practice beneficence in the form of paternalism at the expense of the patient's autonomy? This article explores justifiable paternalism and beneficence.