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Why physicians have authority over patients.

Jake Greenblum¹, Ryan Hubbard²

¹Clinical Ethicist, Memorial Health, Springfield, IL, USA.

Medicine, Health Care, and Philosophy

|May 17, 2022

Summary

Physicians possess normative authority over patients, challenging views that deny this. This authority is demonstrated through four illustrative clinical cases.

Keywords:

Authority Bioethics Duty Medical Authority Raz

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Published on: February 16, 2011

Area of Science:

Medical Ethics
Philosophy of Medicine

Background:

The nature of physician-patient relationships is a key area in medical ethics.
Discussions on physician authority often involve complex philosophical arguments.

Purpose of the Study:

To establish the normative authority of physicians over patients.
To critique existing philosophical viewpoints that deny physician authority.
To provide case-based evidence supporting physician authority.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis of normative authority.
Examination and critique of Arthur Isak Applbaum's arguments.
Case study analysis of four distinct clinical scenarios.

Main Results:

Physicians do hold normative authority over patients.
Critiques of Applbaum's position highlight its limitations.
The presented cases exemplify and support the concept of physician authority.

Conclusions:

The normative authority of physicians is a fundamental aspect of medical practice.
Philosophical arguments against physician authority are insufficient.
Clinical practice and ethical frameworks should recognize physician authority.