AUTONOMY VERSUSPATERNALISM IN MEDICAL PRACTICE IN NIGERIA: A SOCIO-LEGAL DISCOURSE

Abstract

In  the  medical  sphere,  medical  professionals  and patients often  have  to  contend  with  issues  relating  to  the  proper course  of  action  to  take  at  specific  points  in  time  as  dictated  by  the  imperatives  of  legal  rights  and  duties. ‘Autonomy’ refers to a person’s right to freedom from undue interference into his/her private space hence, right to self-determination. Medically, autonomy or respect for autonomy is about allowing patients to decide or be part of the decision-making on their health. On the other hand,‘paternalism’ is the practice by medical professionals that one’s claim for the respect of his/her autonomy rights must not supersede what is seen or perceived as good for him/her  in  a  given  circumstance.  Medically,  paternalism  refers  to  an  action  performed  by  a  medical  practitioner with the intent of promoting another’s good even though such act may be against his/her will or done without his/her consent. To uphold a patient’s right to autonomy in some cases may negate the doctor’s duty of beneficence andnon-maleficence  leading  to  paternalistic  medical  practice.  To  this  end,  the  study  considered  the  issues surrounding autonomy and paternalism as a potential negation of patient’s best interests, medical professional’s discretion and the society’s common interest. The study found that respect for autonomy rights of patients stands at the  core  of  every  doctor-patient  relationship  and  thus,  supreme  and  quintessential.  The  study  further  found  that conceptualizing autonomy within the context of the individualismof western societies may not be fit for purpose in an African context like Nigeria.