Course Description
‘Autonomy’ etymologically breaks down into ‘self-governance’, and it refers to the ability of persons to live their lives according to their own values and life plans. To respect autonomy, then, is to protect individuals against coercion, deception, and paternalism. In many cases it is morally justifiable (and even praiseworthy or obligatory) to interfere with a person against her will when it will benefit her or society at large; for example, forced drug rehabilitation for an addict and laws against smoking in public are considered morally legitimate by many who would otherwise champion people’s right to choose for themselves how to live their lives. This class will focus on the moral importance and limitations of autonomous decision-making in medical settings.
We will begin by looking at autonomy through the lens of different ethical theories in order to understand how one can conceptualize and balance this value against others. Since the Belmont Report, clinicians have placed a great deal of weight on the bioethical principle of respect for autonomy. We will look at the historical shift away from default paternalism and toward respect for autonomy in medical ethics, and we will discuss some of the classic objections to this principle. Different cultural contexts present challenges for the interpretation, specification, and application of this principle. In collectivist societies, for example, the family is considered to be the smallest autonomous unit.
The remainder of the course will be devoted to case studies that raise moral dilemmas related to patient autonomy. If a patient is suffering and in extreme pain, should clinicians respect refusals for treatment? How should this determination be made, and what are the moral costs involved either way? What if the patient is mentally ill or cognitively disabled? When is consent informed enough to be deemed autonomous?
This course counts toward Georgetown's new Bioethics Minor!
We will begin by looking at autonomy through the lens of different ethical theories in order to understand how one can conceptualize and balance this value against others. Since the Belmont Report, clinicians have placed a great deal of weight on the bioethical principle of respect for autonomy. We will look at the historical shift away from default paternalism and toward respect for autonomy in medical ethics, and we will discuss some of the classic objections to this principle. Different cultural contexts present challenges for the interpretation, specification, and application of this principle. In collectivist societies, for example, the family is considered to be the smallest autonomous unit.
The remainder of the course will be devoted to case studies that raise moral dilemmas related to patient autonomy. If a patient is suffering and in extreme pain, should clinicians respect refusals for treatment? How should this determination be made, and what are the moral costs involved either way? What if the patient is mentally ill or cognitively disabled? When is consent informed enough to be deemed autonomous?
This course counts toward Georgetown's new Bioethics Minor!