Nudging as Informing

Abstract

Nudging is the intentional manipulation of the way that a decision is presented to influence choices without taking away options. In medicine, nudging has been proposed as a way for physicians to promote patients’ well-being by steering them toward choices that are actually in their best interest. However, it has been argued that clinical nudging undermines informed consent by interfering with patients’ ability to weigh reasons bearing on their decisions. This paper defends (some) clinical nudges on the basis that they promote informed decision-making by making relevant considerations salient and thereby contributing to patients’ appreciation of them.

Keywords

clinical nudging informed consent rationality autonomy behavior change

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