Question

What are the reasons that Robert M. Veatch gives to support his claim that full choice or active patient participation as an alternative to consent is preferable yet still problematic?

Answer 1

Robert M. Veatch’s article argues that informed consent should be abandoned due to its uses as a “transitional concept” and ambiguity.Veatch provides several examples to support his argument, among these include the “best interest standard”, how a person defines well-being, and physician bias.All of Veatch’s examples are accurate; with our current health care system it is difficult for physicians to make recommendations or conduct procedures on patients. Two important supporting facts of Veatch’s argument are that “actual consent is not obtained in all cases” and that the concept of informed consent is a relatively recent occurrence . Patients may also misinterpret the benefits and risks of a procedure (Krumholz 1190). However, in present day Western society do not think that they are able to eliminate informed consent. There are too many legal ramifications that could occur which will only require unnecessary spending. In order to find a median between informed consent and the best interest of the patient the best thing is physician-patient relationship can be adapted.

Many of the information against consent were rooted in the physician-patient relationship. American health care does not place great emphasis on time spent with the patient, which does not allow physicians to get to actually know their patients. Many of the issues Veatch present deal with this lack of relationship. This suggests that improving and strengthening the relationship between the two parties would be beneficial for both.