title: Evolving legal responses to dependence on families in New Zealand and Singapore healthcare.
abstract: Healthcare decision-making has traditionally focused on individual autonomy, but there is now a change occurring in which the involvement of families is gaining prominence. This appears to stem from an increasing emphasis on relational aspects of autonomy which recognises the individual's connectedness to their family, and also state reliance upon families to share the burdens and costs of caring for elderly and disabled dependents. Such a reorientation calls for similar legal emphasis on patient autonomy as understood in relational terms, and one that offers more adequate conceptions of independence, confidentiality and decision-making authority in the light of this change. This paper outlines how two common law jurisdictions, New Zealand and Singapore, have accommodated, or are responding to, these changes.
authors: Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Tracey E
authors: TE
authors: Chan
authors: Faculty of Law, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors: Nicola S
authors: NS
authors: Peart
authors: Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Chin
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives / Q000941:ethics; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009520:New Zealand; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D012846:Singapore
keywords: Autonomy; Bills, Laws and Cases; Confidentiality/Privacy; Family; Living Wills/Advance Directives