Is end-of-life autonomy only an isolated choice?
The authors treat respect for autonomy as central at the end of life but argue decisions are better understood relationally, in clinical context, not as isolated characteristics of a choice.
Source
Relational autonomy in end-of-life care ethics: a contextualized approach to real-life complexities
Study at a glance
- Design
- Other — Relational-autonomy ethics for end-of-life decisions, illustrated with a clinical vignette
- N
- Normative clinical ethics; vignette is illustrative, not a sample N
- Population
- End-of-life and palliative shared decision-making about respecting autonomy
- Outcome
- Autonomy as relational and contextual rather than an isolated property of a choice
Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.
What they did
They start from Beauchamp and Childress, note relational autonomy’s role in palliative care and shared decision-making, present a positive account mixing ethical approaches, and use a clinical vignette (distant sister, unconscious patient) to show real-life complexity.
What they found
A contextualised approach is needed to meet clinical complexities. End-of-life decision-making is better understood when social relations are taken into account. Autonomy as a property of decisions (Beauchamp–Childress) is too thin.
The limits
What it doesn't show
This is a conceptual ethics paper, not a new hospice trial. The vignette is illustrative.
Key terms
- Respect for autonomy
- Key principle in contemporary medical ethics, especially prominent in end-of-life debates.
- Relational autonomy
- Autonomy as constituted in relationships, proposed as foundational in palliative/shared decisions.
- Decision-autonomy
- Beauchamp and Childress-style view of autonomy as a characteristic of decisions rather than persons-in-relation.
- Contextualised approach
- An account meant to meet real-life clinical complexities rather than idealised isolated choosers.
Flashcards
Research intelligence for this paper
See its role on concept claims, tensions it is part of, placement history, and related discoveries.
Quiz yourself
At end of life, the prominent principle is often?
Common questions
What is their positive account?
Relational autonomy incorporating elements of different ethical approaches.
What is too thin?
Treating autonomy only as a characteristic of decisions.
Why context?
To meet real-life complexities in clinical practice.
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