Журнал клинических исследований и биоэтики

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Ethical Analysis of Taiwanese Psychiatric Patient's Autonomy: By Jonsen's Decision Making Model and Confucianism

MeiHsiu Lee

The autonomy of psychiatric patients has been a popular issue worthy of debate. Because of the cultural background of Taiwan, families often become involved in the autonomous implementation of psychiatric patients, resulting in ethical dilemmas. Regarding medical indications, psychiatric patients can implement autonomy when their decisions do not violate the goals of medical care. The implementation of patient autonomy is respectful not only to patient preferences but also their humanity. For patients, quality of life is subjective; respecting quality of life from patient preferences conforms to the principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence and autonomy. Regarding medical decision making, treatment decisions can affect the interest of families. Taiwanese are affected by Confucianism, which emphasizes the importance of family relations and the intimacy between patients and their families. Therefore, families play an essential role in clinical decision making. This study explores the ethical autonomy of Taiwanese psychiatric patients via Jonsen’s decision making model and the perspective of Confucianism to determine whether Jonsen’s ethical decision making model is adaptive in Taiwanese society.