Interpretive And The Deliberative Models Of The Doctor-Patient Relationship

The doctor-patient relationship has been the keystone in the healthcare system for many years. When catering to the medical needs, the physician in entrusted by the patient to be cured of the ailments. Thus, the physician is ethically required to think in the best interest of the patient. This raises the question whether the physician should also act in the best interest of the patient or award the total power of decision making to the patient. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the interpretive and the deliberative models of doctor-patient relationship with respect to the case of Lazaroff and then support which model is better in general. Emanuel and Emanuel candidly describe various models of the doctor-patient relationship

A paternalistic doctor will act in the best interest of the patient by choosing the right medical treatment on the behalf of the patient without providing or withholding other viable options and without considering the values of the patient. It is a one-way communication channel that is solely dominated by the physician. Autonomy generally refers to the power of self-government (Merriam-Webster). However, in the field of medicine, autonomy or “patient autonomy” refers to the right to decide for one’s body without any exogenous intervention. Thus, the patient should be allowed to make his/her own medical decisions without any pressure or judgment from the doctor. It can be deduced that these two terms can be a source of contention if either one is preferred over the other. Hence, the balance between the two is the central point of discussion in the doctor-patient models which provide varying perspectives on the practice of medicine and are helpful when analyzing clinical

The theoretical models are helpful in the discussion, but the clinical reality dedicates the otherwise. The models treat the patients outside of his/her social context. Most patients prefer family to be involved in the decision-making process. Also, under certain circumstances they might delegate decisions to someone else with better