The value of autonomy in medical ethics.
This articles assesses the arguments that bioethicists have presented for the view that patients' autonomy has value over and beyond its instrumental value in promoting the patients' wellbeing. It argues that this view should be rejected and concludes that patients' autonomy should be taken to have only instrumental value in medicine.
Varelius
Jukka
J
Centre for Professional Ethics, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK. varelius@hotmail.com
D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000941:ethics*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010686:Philosophy, Medical