Patients’ preference approach to overcome the moral implications of family-centred decisions in Saudi medical settings
Abstract Background In Saudi clinical settings, cultural influences can give a patient’s family authority to override the patient’s autonomous right to make informed health-related decisions. Cultural values should not prevent patients from exercising their genuine preferences when making medical de...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Ethics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00868-8 |
| _version_ | 1811188729381912576 |
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| author | Manal Z. Alfahmi |
| author_facet | Manal Z. Alfahmi |
| author_sort | Manal Z. Alfahmi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In Saudi clinical settings, cultural influences can give a patient’s family authority to override the patient’s autonomous right to make informed health-related decisions. Cultural values should not prevent patients from exercising their genuine preferences when making medical decisions in their own best interests. Discussion This article discusses the moral implications of family-centred medical decisions for autonomous patients who are competent and capable of making decisions. The author argues that socio-cultural values do not justify the decision to override patient autonomy when patients express a preference for making their own choices. Conclusion The author recommends the use of a model of shared decision-making that accounts for both individual and relational conceptions of autonomy, approaching patients’ preferences in all medical encounters with the aim of minimising the potential for socio-cultural values to undermine patient autonomy. Although this approach is a safeguard against both family and medical paternalism, allowance is made for clinicians to act in weakly paternalistic ways when patients at high risk of exacerbating existing medical conditions are likely to benefit from delaying or limiting the disclosure of potentially distressing but non-fatal diagnoses and prognoses. Thus, the author argues that even in a culture that supports family involvement in management decisions, physicians should respect patient autonomy by asking patients for their preferences in the disclosure of their medical diagnoses, prognoses and management options and verifying patients’ preferences about the roles they wish their families to play (if any) in health-related decisions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:24:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7eec837f0cf2403485e83da62ab20789 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:24:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Ethics |
| spelling | doaj.art-7eec837f0cf2403485e83da62ab207892022-12-22T04:18:56ZengBMCBMC Medical Ethics1472-69392022-12-0123111210.1186/s12910-022-00868-8Patients’ preference approach to overcome the moral implications of family-centred decisions in Saudi medical settingsManal Z. Alfahmi0King Abdullah Medical CityAbstract Background In Saudi clinical settings, cultural influences can give a patient’s family authority to override the patient’s autonomous right to make informed health-related decisions. Cultural values should not prevent patients from exercising their genuine preferences when making medical decisions in their own best interests. Discussion This article discusses the moral implications of family-centred medical decisions for autonomous patients who are competent and capable of making decisions. The author argues that socio-cultural values do not justify the decision to override patient autonomy when patients express a preference for making their own choices. Conclusion The author recommends the use of a model of shared decision-making that accounts for both individual and relational conceptions of autonomy, approaching patients’ preferences in all medical encounters with the aim of minimising the potential for socio-cultural values to undermine patient autonomy. Although this approach is a safeguard against both family and medical paternalism, allowance is made for clinicians to act in weakly paternalistic ways when patients at high risk of exacerbating existing medical conditions are likely to benefit from delaying or limiting the disclosure of potentially distressing but non-fatal diagnoses and prognoses. Thus, the author argues that even in a culture that supports family involvement in management decisions, physicians should respect patient autonomy by asking patients for their preferences in the disclosure of their medical diagnoses, prognoses and management options and verifying patients’ preferences about the roles they wish their families to play (if any) in health-related decisions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00868-8AutonomyFamily dominanceShared decision-makingThe preference approach to patient care |
| spellingShingle | Manal Z. Alfahmi Patients’ preference approach to overcome the moral implications of family-centred decisions in Saudi medical settings BMC Medical Ethics Autonomy Family dominance Shared decision-making The preference approach to patient care |
| title | Patients’ preference approach to overcome the moral implications of family-centred decisions in Saudi medical settings |
| title_full | Patients’ preference approach to overcome the moral implications of family-centred decisions in Saudi medical settings |
| title_fullStr | Patients’ preference approach to overcome the moral implications of family-centred decisions in Saudi medical settings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patients’ preference approach to overcome the moral implications of family-centred decisions in Saudi medical settings |
| title_short | Patients’ preference approach to overcome the moral implications of family-centred decisions in Saudi medical settings |
| title_sort | patients preference approach to overcome the moral implications of family centred decisions in saudi medical settings |
| topic | Autonomy Family dominance Shared decision-making The preference approach to patient care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00868-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT manalzalfahmi patientspreferenceapproachtoovercomethemoralimplicationsoffamilycentreddecisionsinsaudimedicalsettings |