The trouble with do-gooders: the example of suicide.
This paper describes the concept of a do-gooder: a person who does unwanted good. It illustrates why doing-good is a problem and argues that patients should not be compelled to do what is best. It shows the ways in which doctors covertly do-good and offers a critique of these. The discussion focuses on the example of the treatment of patients who attempt suicide.
Savulescu
J
J
Sub-Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford.
D026686:Beneficence; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive; D006801:Humans; D033221:Jehovah's Witnesses; D026706:Paternalism; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012945:Social Values; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology; D016312:Treatment Refusal