Balancing Safety With Quality of Life

1
Balancing Safety With Quality of Life

• Alister Browne, PhD (Philosophy), Clinical
  Associate Professor and Ethics Theme Director
• Faculty of Medicine, University of British
  Columbia

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PATERNALISM

• Paternalism Interfering with individuals in
  their own interest
• Weak
• Interfere only if encumbered
• Strong
• Interfere if encumbered or unencumbered if
  reason to think person will be subsequently
  grateful

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Paternalism

• Encumbered No interference
• Unencumbered Interference if
• a) Effective
• b) BenefitsgtEvils
• c) Mildest possible
• Status unclear As Enc. increases Risk
  increases
• Interference easier

4
Professional Autonomy

• Resident wants ice cream
• Principle of Autonomy
• Bring ice cream (prima facie)
•  
• Principle of Nonmaleficence Do no harm

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Professional Autonomy

• Harm
•  
• Bring ice cream Do not bring ice cream
•  
• increase physical decrease
•  
• decrease psychological increase

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Professional Autonomy

• Physical harm
• HCPs best judge
•  
• Psychological harm
• Resident best judge
•  
• What risks are worth what benefits
• Resident best judge