The Fallacy of Person-Centred Care: Deconstructing the Discourse to Reimagine Practice

Area of Science:

• Healthcare policy and practice
• Philosophy of care
• Professional ethics

Background:

• Person-centred care is widely adopted as the gold standard in healthcare, influencing institutions and professional identity.
• Despite its prominence, bureaucratic structures and conflicting agendas hinder the consistent implementation of person-centred care.
• Existing frameworks fail to empower healthcare professionals to challenge practices that compromise patient autonomy and agency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critique the current state and implementation of person-centred care in healthcare.
• To explore the potential for a new model of healthcare professionals inspired by philosophical concepts.
• To propose an 'Über-professional' model that empowers practitioners to uphold authentic care principles.

Main Methods:

• Deconstructive critique of person-centred care, drawing on Derridean philosophy.
• Philosophical inquiry into healthcare practice and professional roles.
• Conceptualization of the 'Über-professional' based on Nietzschean philosophy.

Main Results:

• Person-centred care is argued to be 'dead' in practice, undermined by its proponents and systemic issues.
• The concept's original intent and beneficiaries are questioned.
• The 'Über-professional' model offers a framework for authentic practice and resistance to compromised care.

Conclusions:

• The failure of person-centred care necessitates a paradigm shift in healthcare practice.
• The 'Über-professional' model provides a vision for empowered healthcare professionals committed to genuine patient advocacy.
• This new model encourages practitioners to challenge institutional constraints and ensure patient voices are central to care decisions.