Paul R Linde M.D. on May 11, 2010
In considering the motivations and conduct of an ER doctor, should paternalism be such a dirty word?
Determining if a medical problem represents an "imminent loss of life or limb" for a patient seems as if it should constitute a straightforward, yes-or-no, situation for an ER doctor to figure out. It is at the heart of what defines a "medical emergency."
But consider the following example, in which the principles of a physician's duty for beneficence and a patient's right to autonomy come into conflict. Shades of grey predominate here.
In considering the motivations and conduct of an ER doctor, should paternalism be such a dirty word?
Determining if a medical problem represents an "imminent loss of life or limb" for a patient seems as if it should constitute a straightforward, yes-or-no, situation for an ER doctor to figure out. It is at the heart of what defines a "medical emergency."
But consider the following example, in which the principles of a physician's duty for beneficence and a patient's right to autonomy come into conflict. Shades of grey predominate here.
Verified by Psychology Today
