Ethical Realities of Bariatric Nursing: A Case Study Approach to Real-World Dilemmas Part 2: Paternalism—Recognizing the Tension Between Beneficence and Autonomy

Abstract

Historically, paternalism is thought to have emerged as tension between the ethical principles of beneficence and autonomy; it is described as a dominant attitude of one over another. It was widely practiced years ago primarily by providers who were expected to make the best decision for the patient. More recently, the trend is to include the patient in the decision-making process. This article describes types of paternalism, presents justification for paternalism, and presents problems of paternalism using a case study approach.