Question

"When making a decision for a non-competent patient, every effort should be made to try to determine what the patient themselves would have wanted were they still competent to make the decision"

A. Best interest standard
B. Substituted judgment
C. Paternalism
D. Autonomy

Answer 1

Substituted judgment is the approach used when making decisions for a non-competent patient, aiming to determine what the patient would have wanted. It is different from the best interest standard, paternalism, and autonomy. Respect for past autonomy and beneficence are key principles in such healthcare decisions.

Step-by-step explanation:

When making a decision for a non-competent patient, efforts should be made to determine what the patient themselves would have wanted. This approach is known as substituted judgment. Substituted judgment is distinct from the best interest standard, which considers what is objectively in the best interest of the patient, and paternalism, where the healthcare provider makes decisions for the patient, often without considering the patient's wishes.

Parents often provide consent on behalf of their non-competent children, but the principles that guide decisions for non-competent adults in clinical settings involve respect for past autonomy and consideration of the patient's potential wishes. The principle of autonomy, as well as beneficence—acting in ways that benefit the patient—are key principles in healthcare ethics.