Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Principles of Rodent Surgery for the New Surgeon
Published on: January 6, 2011
Ethical reflections on the principle of patient autonomy
Marianne Bracconi1, Christian Hervé2, Philippe Pirnay3
1Laboratoire d'éthique médicale et de médecine légale, Unité de recherche EA 4569, Faculté de médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Paris (France); Département de Santé publique, Faculté de chirurgie dentaire, Université Paris Descartes, Montrouge (France); Service d'odontologie, Hôpital Albert-Chenevier, Groupe hospitalier Henri-Mondor, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Créteil (France).
Abstract:
In a world open to the movement of people, medical ethics is today associated with the area of loyal behavior of the practitioner and oriented in the patient's interest and accountability of each. The universal vision of respect for the dignity of the sick person progresses. Yet, many behaviours are sometimes illegitimate, but not in principle legally reprehensible. One of the main principles marking the observance of patient consent is based on the autonomy given to the patient to decide for himself what appears to be adapted to his or her care. The patient must be the one who makes the final decision on issues concerning them and doctors must act to respect it. Therefore, they must accept that the patient has a different value system.
Related Concept Videos
Nursing Ethical Principles I
Autonomy
Autonomy underscores the significance of a patient's self-determination and freedom from external control. In healthcare, respecting...
Nursing Ethical Principles II
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...
Ethics in Research
The Uncertainty Principle
Hardy-Weinberg Principle
Ethics and Bioethics

