Commentary on Glannon and Ross, and McKay

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Philosophy of Medicine

Background:

• The patient-doctor relationship is under scrutiny, prompting re-evaluation of its foundational principles.
• Existing analyses by Glannon and Ross, and McKay, explore sources of authority using the concept of altruism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critique the necessity and validity of using altruism to analyze the patient-doctor relationship.
• To evaluate the analyses presented by Glannon and Ross, and McKay.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of existing literature on the patient-doctor relationship and altruism.
• Philosophical argumentation regarding the concept of authority in medicine.

Main Results:

• The application of altruism to define the patient-doctor relationship is deemed unnecessary.
• The analysis by McKay is identified as flawed, while Glannon and Ross's description of roles and responsibilities has merit.

Conclusions:

• The current reliance on altruism for understanding patient-doctor authority is questioned.
• A re-evaluation of the theoretical underpinnings of the patient-doctor relationship is warranted, potentially moving beyond altruism.