Paternalism in healthcare decision making

Abstract

Paternalism is described as a dominant attitude of one over another. It was widely practiced years ago because clinicians were usually expected to make the best decision for the patient. Modern healthcare, with its many technically advanced diagnostic and treatment modalities complicates decision making. The trend legally and morally is to include the patient in the decision making process because patients are increasingly informed and able to participate in the decision making process. However, the risks of paternalism continue to be a debatable issue in healthcare. The purpose of this article is to describe types of paternalism, to present justification for paternalism, and to offer a case study to illustrate the struggle that occurs when decisions made by clinicians collide with decisions made by patients.