Personal autonomy, good care, informed consent and human dignity--some reflections from a European perspective

Med Law. 2009 Sep;28(3):469-77.

Abstract

Respecting and protecting personal autonomy requires that autonomy is interpreted in conjunction with the principle of good care in a way consistent with (the aspirations enshrined in) human dignity. This leads to a principled and relational approach towards personal autonomy. This implies an active role of health care providers, as councillors of patients, and a personalised way of obtaining informed consent, to maximally ensure the enjoying personal autonomy.

MeSH terms

  • Europe
  • Humans
  • Informed Consent*
  • Personal Autonomy*
  • Professional-Patient Relations
  • Quality of Health Care*