Principle of respect for autonomy

Definition
What does autonomy mean?

From the Greek: autos (self) Nomos (rule of law), broadly meaning ‘self-
determination, self-rule, being your own person, self governing
 Activity
Individually take 5 minutes to consider the
following questions:
➢What decisions do you make about your
life?
➢What decisions do you make about
other people’s lives?
➢How do you justify the decisions you
make?
➢How would you feel if I took away your ability
to make decisions?
 Question?
• How does the principle of respect for
autonomy relate to health care?
• What does this mean in relation to
patients?
 What obligations does respecting patient
autonomy impose on us in practice?
• Respecting autonomy means you must:
Consider the words in the bubbles below, in groups of 2 or 3
create statements which include 1 or more of these
words.
PATIENT
VERACITY INFORMATIO
PREFERENCE N

COMMUNICATION PERSUADED
 Autonomy v Paternalism
Paternalism is defined as the overriding of individual
choices or intentional actions in order to provide benefit
to that individual (Beauchamp & Childress, 2001)
 Occasions when it is not possible
to respect a person’s autonomy
• What are these?
Autonomy & Competence
 Pause for thought!
• When you were getting ready this morning
were you autonomous and competent today?
• Did you decide what to wear, bring with you,
how to get here?
• BUT: would you be competent to deliver a
lecture on Pathology??
• Autonomy refers to a general capacity of an
individual

• Competence refers to more specific abilities,

such as those involved in the performance of a
specific task.
 Factors which may affect
competence
• Physical

• Psychological

• In many moral problems the question of the

competence of the patient is absolutely
crucial.
 Conclusion
Principle of respect
for autonomy and
competence are
crucial in moral
decision making
in medical ethics,
and require a
great deal of
thought.