patient autonomy
Healthcare decision rights
Patient autonomy is the right of patients to make informed decisions about their own medical care.
It encompasses choosing or refusing treatments, selecting healthcare providers, and directing end-of-life care.
The principle underlies practices like informed consent and advance directives: The hospital policy emphasizes patient autonomy in treatment decisions.
Patient autonomy may conflict with medical recommendations or family wishes.
- advance directivesDocumented healthcare preferences beforehand
- do not resuscitateOrder refusing emergency revival
- informed consentPermission given with understanding
- treatment optionsCourses of care offered
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
living wills · bioethics · moral agency · healthcare proxy · power of attorney · bodily integrity · right to refuse · refusal · personal values · medical ethics · decision-making capacity · HIPAA compliance · empowerment · dignity · health literacy · end-of-life · justice · competence
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, medicine, surgery
- bioethicsbioethics, medical ethics, genetic engineering, beneficence, non-maleficence
- Medical Ethicsmedical ethics, informed consent, beneficence, veracity, fidelity
- autonomyfreedom, self-rule, independence, self-determination, free will
- End-of-Lifeadvance directive, DNR, do not resuscitate, hospice, life support
- medical decisionstreatment planning, informed consent, treatment options, clinical judgment, DNR
patient autonomypaternalism
Controlling others for their good
parental authority · court-ordered treatment · compulsory treatment
patient autonomyinvoluntary treatment
Medical care given despite refusal
compulsory treatment · mandated treatment · involuntary commitment · state intervention · patient compliance