Peer Response: Paternalism and Patient Self-determination in Decision-Making

Hello College

I concur with your position that self-determination is important is making decision regarding choice to live. However, since the decisions made by a patient affects a greater number of parties such as family members and friends, it also become essential to collect the views of the interested parties before approving the decision of a patient as a result of self-determination. In addition for patients who portray suicidal though and connotations, such as lack of meaning of life and family struggles, requests of conducting euthanasia should be scrutinized keenly since they may portray personal interest of the patient without considering the feeling of the loved ones. A good mix between paternalism and self-determination will enable informed decision making; where all the parties, the patient, physician, and the family members are involved.

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