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Part 3: Autonomy, paternalism, advocacy and consent

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2006

G. E. Smith
G. E. Smith
Affiliation:
Division of Radiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Abstract

In the past 50 years, informed consent has become a fundamental principle of health care ethics. With the introduction of new technology and new techniques in radiotherapy practice, practitioners must be aware of the ethical dimensions of their work and be able to organize their understanding of the issues. Informed consent is based on the recognition of the patient as an autonomous agent. This paper commences by defining autonomy and its supposed opposite concept – paternalism, as well as discussing patient advocacy and illustrating these concepts in the context of informed consent in radiotherapy practice. Practitioners must mould themselves not only to be knowledgeable and skilled professionals but also to be respectful and caring human beings.

Keywords

Autonomypaternalismadvocacyconsentradiotherapy practice
Type
Essays in Ethics
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 1 , Issue 3 , November 1999 , pp. 153 - 158
Copyright
1999 Cambridge University Press

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