Working with the ethical principles of beneficence and autonomy, I address three questions: How can communication between physicians and their patients be improved? How does the public availability of practice guidelines and other alternative sources of health information influence the interactions between physicians and patients? How can a partnership in health care in which the patient and the physician share responsibility be achieved? Educating patients for a partnership in health care will offer a further incentive for physicians to enter and sustain such a partnership.
AbstractWorking with the ethical principles of beneficence and autonomy, I address three questions: How can communication between physicians and their patients be improved? How does the public availability of practice guidelines and other alternative sources of health information influence the interactions between physicians and patients? How can a partnership in health care in which the patient and the physician share responsibility be achieved? Educating patients for a partnership in health care will offer a further incentive for physicians to enter and sustain such a partnership.