Time demands and medical ethics in women's health care

The perspectives of sociology and medical ethics are combined in this study of how the demands of women's social roles affect their efforts to obtain health care. The principles of justice, beneficence, and respect for autonomy are applied to the delivery of health care. A conflict between beneficence and respect for autonomy often leads to medical paternalism. Health care is not distributed justly in the United States, and three models of patient-practitioner interaction exist as a result of financial and time constraints on women. The first model is truly paternalistic. The second appears to be paternalistic. However, medical practitioners in this model are actually given a decision-making role by their female patients for specific issues for limited time periods. A third model exemplifies cooperation between medical professionals and patients, but this model is elusive to most women because of time constraints.