PHLB09H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Paternalism, Harm Avoidance
Document Summary
If not, some form of p may be permissible: goldman: p is impermissible. The most inclusive notion of harm is relative to the values and preferences of the particular individual (94: different patients will be able to tolerate different degrees of harm. Claim: honouring a won"t cause harm (thus~ p) paternalism is morally impermissible. Assume: harm is objective (pain, depression, death) Reason: refusing treatment implies tolerance: not painful enough. Claim: honouring a won"t cause harm (thus ~ p) Assume: harm relative to value orderings": anything that may interrupt a life. Reason: refusing treatment implies ranking (projects interrupted by treatment worse than advanced illness) Bad argument contra (against) p (95): claim: wrong to withhold info, reason: patients want to know about condition, reason: physicians can"t know whole patient history. Rebuttal: truth telling is irreversible, doctors should act on best risk/benefit calculation, too strong to assume patients" right to truth. This at most shows doctors need training to judge effects of disclosure.
