The discussion on whether patients should be allowed to make decisions regarding their medical treatment has raised both moral and ethical concerns over the years. The ethical perspective is based on values and reasoning while morality is based on a code of conduct or a belief system. Ethics and morality define when a patient should or should not be allowed to make decisions about their medical treatment. Also, the two perspectives are critical in describing the situations when a doctor may intervene in patient decisions. Several questions arise from this discussion.
Should Patients be allowed to decide regarding medical treatment?
A patient should be allowed to make decisions regarding medical treatment. The nature of therapy can influence the decision made by a patient. The procedure can be preventive, curative or palliative. The physician should recommend the medical treatment to the patient and explain the nature of treatment. The doctor should elaborate all the details of the medical treatment and its effect on the patient to the patient. The patient should also be made aware of any side effects that may result from the medical treatment so that he or she can make an informed decision to accept the medical procedure. Once the patient is given all the information about the medical treatment, he or she can exercise her right to informed consent or right to refuse treatment (Buchanan, 2004). A patient may decline medical treatment for various reasons. For instance, if the patient feels that the treatment would cost more than what he or she can afford; the patient may decline the treatment. Also, a patient may disregard a medical treatment if he or she feels such treatment would prolong his/her pain and suffering (Sainio, Lauri, & Eriksson, 2001). An example is when a cancer patient refuses to undergo chemotherapy due to the prolonged pain that he or she must endure. It is also unethical to coerce a patient to accept treatment against their will since it violates their rights.
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Should Doctors Intervene in some Patients Decisions?
Doctors should not intervene in a patient’s decision regarding medical treatment. The physician should only play the role of informing the patient of all the available options and the impact that the treatment will have on the patient’s health. The patient should then be allowed to give consent to the treatment. However, some situations may make a physician intervene in the patient’s decision. For instance, a patient who has a communicable disease which is a threat to other members of the public may be coerced to undergo treatment (Ackerman, 1982). In such a situation, the physician may intervene to ensure the safety of the members of the public. Also, where a patient is mentally ill and is a threat to the safety of other people may trigger intervention of the physician to curb the situation. In both cases, the doctor has a moral obligation to intervene. However, if the illness is non-life threatening the patient’s right to refuse treatment should not be violated.
Who should make medical treatment Decision if both doctor and Patient make mistakes?
The doctor and the patient may make mistakes in medical treatment decisions. In such a scenario, the close family members should intervene to make medical treatment decisions for the patient. The patient may appoint a family member. The family members have the interests of the patient at heart hence they would make decisions that would be beneficial to the patient. Also, a reference to Advance Directives by the patient may be made. This is in the case where the patient had structured a living will which can be used as a reference point in medical treatment decision making. This can be useful if the patient is unable to make decisions due to incapacitation. The Advance Directive would prevent the occurrence of mistakes in decision making. The medical power of attorney may also be used similarly as the Advance Directives.
Do Patient and Doctor make different mistakes and how does it help to guide doctor-patient relationship?
The mistakes done by the physician and the patients regarding medical treatment decisions are different. Physicians may make mistakes when diagnosing a patient while patients may make mistakes when making treatment decisions. The diagnostic errors may result in misinformed advice to the patient on the treatment options. The patient, on the other hand, may make mistakes by ignoring medical treatment advice from the physician based on the diagnosis made. The two errors are dissimilar, and this knowledge would help to guide the doctor-patient relationship. The patient needs to understand that the advice and recommendation from the doctor are entirely based on diagnosis results. The doctor should also appreciate the fact that the patient has a right to informed consent or refusal of the treatment options. This would help to ensure that a healthy doctor-patient relationship is maintained.
In conclusion, the patients have a moral responsibility to consent to treatment if in so doing they will preserve their lives. Also, the physicians should diagnose a patient and recommend treatment to the patient accurately. However, the physicians should not coerce their patients to take medical procedure against their will.
References
Ackerman, T. F. (1982). Why doctors should intervene. Hastings Center Report, 12(4), 14-17.
Buchanan, A. (2004). Mental capacity, legal competence, and consent to treatment. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 97(9), 415-420.
Sainio, C., Lauri, S., & Eriksson, E. (2001). Cancer patients’ views and experiences of participation in care and decision making. Nursing ethics, 8(2), 97-113.
