The Refutation Of Medical Paternalism

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Paternalism means restriction of the rights and freedoms of patients' choice for their own good. Most doctors are prone to a paternalistic model, because they themselves determine the amount of information that should be given to the patient. Paternalism for doctors is a conscious form of behavior that shapes the vertical of their professional relationships - both with patients and with other hospital staff. Alan Goldman in the article “The Refutation of Medical Paternalism” proposed different ideas against paternalistic interference. First of all, he pointed out that patient in the right to choose the treatment, because of the low likelihood of harm, if we consider the objectivity of the choice. Moreover, patients make decisions in their