Bailey Susan
Deakin University.
Aust Health Rev. 2002;25(2):27-31. doi: 10.1071/ah020027.
The concept of paternalism is deeply entrenched in health care. Decision-making about health care can be extremely difficult at times, and many competing interests may influence the outcomes. However, ethically defensible practice aligns itself with acknowledging the patient's prima facie right to be treated as an autonomous individual. This includes the patient's right to make informed decisions or to decide that other(s), such as the close family, should make decisions on his or her behalf.
家长式作风的概念在医疗保健领域根深蒂固。医疗保健决策有时可能极其困难，许多相互冲突的利益可能会影响结果。然而，符合道德规范的做法是承认患者享有被视为自主个体的初步权利。这包括患者做出明智决策的权利，或者决定让他人（如近亲）代表自己做出决策的权利。
