HLTH 1005 Health Promotion : Solution Essays

Question:

I personally do not think there can be a more sensitive topic to discuss in the realm of ethics than autonomy and paternalism regarding health policies. I can also say there is not another topic I am so indecisive about. I am a firm advocate that healthcare decisions belong to the individual; however, in saying that, when society will be affected by an individual’s personal decision, I feel they lose their individual choice for the greater good.

Mandatory vaccinations are one of the several examples that fall into this category. It is a parent’s prerogative whether or not to vaccinate their child, however, when their unvaccinated child reaches school age, public schools should have the right to refuse admission for those children.

According to the CDC, state laws establish the requirements for school children (2016). Some states do provide exemption for religious or medical reasons, however “studies have shown these vaccine exemptions tend to cluster geographically, making some communities at greater risk for outbreaks” (Lieu et al, 2015 as cited in CDC, 2016).

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States 1 January 2000 (Phadke et al, 2016), however, a study was done to evaluate an association between vaccine delay, refusal, or exemption with recent US outbreaks. The study describes 1416 measles cases, and more than half had no history of measles vaccination. The conclusion further stated that the “phenomenon of vaccine refusal was associated with an increased risk for measles among people who refuse vaccines and among fully vaccinated individuals” (Phadke et al, 2016).

With numbers such as these, it is difficult not to say I support a paternalistic approach that the society as a whole has more rights than the individual.

Answer:

Introduction:

After internalizing the discussion, I strongly agree with the fact that paternalistic approach is important in the principle of medical ethics. Patient autonomy is not a simple notion that gives rights to patients in making decisions rather it has to be understood in the context of broad socio-cultural setting. Paternalism plays an important role in the patients’ health decision-making, as it requires healthcare professionals to decide what is good or bad without considering their personal interests (Murgic et al. 2015). There is an ethical dilemma whether paternalism supports autonomy or not. In this scenario, my position can be argued on the grounds of principle of patient autonomy as an individual has the liberty and right to make independent decisions on matters that affect their lives.

However, I strongly believe that my stance is right in terms of ethical dilemma. The primary obligation of healthcare professionals should be the greater good of humanity. This altruistic act is evident from the Hippocrates oath to serve humanity to the best of ability, caring for sick, good health promotion and pain and suffering alleviation (Sayani 2015). In this case, if any patient’s decision is not avoiding harm, paternalistic intervention is rightly justified. My viewpoint is advocated in the spheres of individual advantages that favors for obtaining medical help in the matters of health.

In the ethical dilemma between paternalism versus autonomy, there is no clear answer. However, for the betterment of the society, medical decisions should be made mutually between healthcare professionals and patients as both aspects are have their own significance according to the situations.

References

Murgic, L., Hébert, P.C., Sovic, S. and Pavlekovic, G., 2015. Paternalism and autonomy: views of patients and providers in a transitional (post-communist) country. BMC medical ethics, 16(1), p.65.

Sayani, A.H., 2015. Conflict between paternalism and autonomy. Journal of Clinical Research & Bioethics, 6(6), p.1.

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