In Defense of Patient Autonomy in Kidney Failure Care When Treatment Choices Are Limited

Summary: Respect for patient autonomy is a primary ethical obligation of health care providers. In kidney health care, clinical practice recommendations commonly include strategies to promote shared decision making with patients and their families about treatment options to promote patient autonomy and improve patient outcomes. However, for many people with kidney failure, treatment options may be unavailable or inaccessible. In these circumstances some clinicians may act paternalistically and withhold information from patients because of a fear of causing harm or because clinicians believe that patient autonomy is not a relevant consideration.
Source: Seminars in Nephrology - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Source Type: research