Autonomy and Paternalism: Partners or Rivals?

Abstract

This article is concerned with the ethical relationship between autonomy and paternalism. In the health care setting both clients and professionals can be profoundly affected by the way in which this relationship is interpreted and this article sets out to explore this phenomenon. It began by offering some well established definitions of autonomy and paternalism and goes on to examine the two principles in detail as they relate to persons in good health and to those in ill health. Finally an attempt made to answer the question of whether the two concepts are in conflict or partnership.