What Is Autonomy

A patient who insists on receiving chemotherapy, despite going against medical advice, should be allowed to receive treatment for their terminal cancer. The decision to allow a patient to receive chemotherapy can be guided using the ethical principles of autonomy, truthfulness and informed consent. Autonomy, defined as a “ right to make independent decisions concerning one’s own life and well-being” includes four distinct components, describing autonomy as: “free action, effective deliberation, authenticity and moral reflection” (Yeo & Moorhouse, 1996). Autonomy as free action, defined as “being able to do what one wishes to do” (Yeo & Moorhouse, 1996), can be used to show that any decision a patient makes is their own personal right. Therefore,

It can be assumed that since an individual has been granted the opportunity to make a decision regarding their cancer treatment, they have adequate decision making capacity. With this, it can be said that a patient making a decision regarding their health care is using their autonomous right as effective deliberation. They are, making a decision based on their own reasoning, something no one else has a right to interfere with.

Likewise, using autonomy as moral reflection, which is defined as “more or less self conscious about the values expressed in one’s choice” (Yeo & Moorhouse, 1996), it can be said that any decision a patient makes has been thoughtfully processed. Such decision is deciphered not only by examining their own values, but also takes into account how their decision will affect others around them, proving that the decision they made is of

This truthful disclosure of the effects of chemotherapy on the patient should include three distinct elements. Element one should include disclosing information about the effect of chemotherapy in its entirety if a patient chooses to receive it. This should include what the patient will expect to happen over the course of the treatment and how their prognosis will change and to what degree over the course of the next few months. Element two would be to discuss in its entirety, how the effect of chemotherapy will affect the patient's daily life and what they should expect as changes. This should include everything a clinician knows about the chemotherapy treatment itself, either based on clinical experience or based on experimental evidence. Element three should include more specific, in depth information about any cognitive, psychological and spiritual changes that the patient may experience if they choose to undergo