word
Paternalism in medicine
pah-TER-nah-liz-um
/pəˈtɜːrnəlɪzəm/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
paternalisminmedicine
Dictionary meaning
The practice of healthcare providers making decisions for patients based on what they believe is in the patient's best interest, without fully involving the patient in the process, potentially overriding the patient's own preferences or autonomy.
Examples
- Medical paternalism was more widely accepted in the mid-twentieth century before patient rights became central.
- Critics of paternalism in medicine argue it undermines dignity and the principle of informed consent.
Synonyms: medical paternalism, benevolent authoritarianism
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