A communal vision of care for incompetent patients.
In a pluralistic society, the "best interests" standard is an inadequate criterion for determining what level of medical care to provide incompetent patients.Instead, the standard of care should be derived from the deliberations of particular communities. A "community-federated" plan would enhance individual choice and diminish family and physician uncertainty.
Emanuel
E J
EJ
Program in Ethics and the Professions, Harvard University.
D001294:Attitude to Health; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D028663:Ethical Theory; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000592:standards*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012945:Social Values; D026712:Value of Life; D028761:Withholding Treatment