"Paternalism health care" is a term used to describe a style of medical treatment in which the physician or healthcare provider assumes a parental role towards patients, making decisions for their care without their input or consent. The IPA phonetic transcription for this term is /pəˈtɜːnəlɪzəm hɛlθ kɛr/. The spelling of "paternalism" uses the letter combination "-alism" to denote an ideology or practice, while "healthcare" is spelled as one word to emphasize its importance as a field of practice.
Paternalism in healthcare refers to a philosophy or approach in which healthcare professionals, such as doctors or physicians, make decisions on behalf of their patients with the belief that they are acting in the patient's best interest. It involves the healthcare provider assuming a dominant role in the decision-making process, often based on their professional expertise and judgment.
This form of healthcare is characterized by a caregiver acting as a paternal figure, guiding and directing the patient's medical decisions without necessarily involving them in the decision-making or considering their values, preferences, or autonomy. The provider believes that they have superior knowledge and authority when it comes to making medical decisions for the patient, and as a result, patients may experience a lack of control or agency in their own healthcare.
Critics of paternalistic healthcare argue that it can undermine patients' autonomy and ability to make informed decisions about their own health. They argue that healthcare decisions should be a collaborative process between the patient and the provider, taking into account the patient's individual beliefs, values, and input.
In recent years, there has been a shift in healthcare towards shared decision-making and patient-centered care, which aims to involve patients more actively in their own healthcare decisions. However, paternalistic tendencies can still be found in certain medical situations, particularly when patients are unable to make decisions due to their medical condition or capacity.