The Importance Of Paternalism In Health Care

Right to make autonomous decision is a significant human right by birth. But at times, an individual’s poor decision making ability effects on his well-being. In the health care setup, one of such example is forceful admission of psychiatric clients in mental asylums. The Forceful admission includes violation of autonomy in order to benefit the client by promoting beneficence and ending up into paternalism. Patient’s choice to enter the hospital voluntarily or, alternatively, to refuse admission is of pivotal importance. Due to violation of integrity, self-determination and autonomy, client suffers from low satisfaction and legal disabilities. But on the other hand, treatment implied by coercion improves the outcome compared to the outcome with no (coercive) intervention. The underlying belief is that patients with drug abuse and mental disorders are unable to understand their needs of treatment, thus justifying paternalism as a well-intended interference with a person’s liberty of action (Høyer, Kjellin, Engberg, Kaltiala-Heino, Nilstun, Sigurjonsdottir & Syse, 2002). This paper will discuss the case scenario, some ethical principles, different constraints, possible solutions and evaluating those solutions according to ethical concepts and principles.

As a health care provider, I encountered a patient who verbalized sense of uselessness and low esteem due to his forceful admission in psychiatric setting. While interviewing client, he told me that he has been admitted here for his addiction problem with symptoms of schizophrenia. On inquiring, I came to know that he becomes violent and harm others and his family because of which they wanted him to get treated. According to client, one can’t forcefully admit him in psychiatric set...

... middle of paper ...

...iority. Paternalism remains central to my case scenario. But on the other hand, some theorist suggests shared-decision making as more compatible (Charles, ghafni and Whelan, 1997). This emphasizes the active participation of patient in decision making related to plan treatment.Hence the patient was forcefully admitted to the psychiatric setup, but it is important that the health care providers should now make an attempt to plan his future treatment mutually. This will help increase patient’s self-esteem and his compliance with the treatment.

On whole, forceful admission could be a painful experience for an individual as his right of autonomy is disrupted. But, at time of patient welfare paternalism is important. However, patient’s sense of dignity can be upraised by informing client, later and how coercion and paternalistic approach was important to be considered.