Autonomy In Health Care Essay

The four ways of applying autonomy to health care mentioned in the readings (Yeo, Moorehouse, and Dalziel 93-95) are incompatible with those of other, non-“Westernized” countries, as they assume that each health care situation will involve a patient whose culture puts emphasis on not only autonomy and the modern health care system, but also certain ideas of autonomy (Yeo, Moorehouse, and Dalziel 93-95). Each culture and individual has their own idea of autonomy and health care that has developed from one’s personal and cultural experiences, so there may be conflicting values between a health care provider and patient. Making an independent choice is seen as ambitious in the Westernized world, as autonomy has always been stressed. This is not
But if the decision was to refuse treatment, this could be considered irrational, compromising autonomy. There must be a broader definition of ‘’rational”, so it applies to all medical beliefs, including Holism. This is demonstrated in the Hmong case (Ells and Caniano 522). Autonomy also requires informed consent. But language barriers and contrasting levels of medical knowledge make this almost impossible. The patient and care provider also have different opinions of what should be discussed, as both have different ideas of health care. Applying Susan Sherwin’s relational conception of autonomy to these issues would acknowledge the significance of social interactions (possibly oppressive) and dependence on relationships in the process of discovering one’s own autonomous self. It also acknowledges that the health care system must adapt from a model suited for the well-off, to a more diverse model that welcomes the practices and values of other beliefs. This may include integrating alternative procedures into the “norm”, more approachable professionals, and taking the time to understand a patient’s background, as it may have led to their lack of