title: [Autonomy in medicine. Self-determination, self-design and shaping one's own life].
abstract: Autonomy is a central and multifaceted concept of ethical reflection with many nuances of meaning. Central to the concept are the ability and opportunity to self-determine and self-design, as well as the potential to shape the course of one's own life significantly. However, there is generally a narrow understanding of the concept in the debate on patient autonomy and informed consent in a medico-therapeutic context, to which the possibility to a free decision-making process based on concrete treatment scenarios is central. In contrast, the present article discusses the diversity of autonomy-related aspects in non-therapeutic areas of medicine, while underlining the need to further develop and differentiate the concept of autonomy.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Ethik in den Biowissenschaften, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, BRD. elisabeth.hildt@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hildt
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000941:ethics*; D005858:Germany; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000941:ethics*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010819:Physician's Role; D012941:Social Responsibility