Examining consent within the patient-doctor relationship

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Ethics
• Patient Autonomy
• Decision-Making

Background:

• The concept of informed consent in biomedical ethics, while intended to protect patient autonomy, is a recent development.
• Existing notions of consent may not fully address issues of duress or ignorance.
• The efficacy of consent is questioned, particularly in paternalistic scenarios where verification is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the concept of patient consent in biomedical ethics.
• To propose an alternative framework that enhances patient participation and autonomy.
• To explore the implications of a request-based relationship in healthcare decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of the notion of consent in biomedical ethics.
• Argumentation regarding the limitations of consent, especially in paternalistic contexts.
• Proposal and defense of a request-based model for patient-provider interactions.

Main Results:

• Consent can be redundant and is often difficult to verify in situations requiring paternalism.
• A request-based relationship model can overcome challenges associated with consent.
• This model promotes greater patient participation, command, and avoids subordination.

Conclusions:

• A request-based approach in healthcare decision-making is superior to traditional consent models.
• This approach better aligns medical treatments with patients' values and perceptions.
• It fosters a more equitable and autonomous patient experience in healthcare.