Premium
THE MEDICAL DECISION‐MAKING PROCESS AND THE FAMILY: THE CASE OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR HUSBANDS
Author(s) -
GILBAR ROY,
GILBAR ORA
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bioethics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.494
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1467-8519
pISSN - 0269-9702
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2008.00650.x
Subject(s) - spouse , breast cancer , paternalism , autonomy , patient participation , preference , psychology , social psychology , family medicine , medicine , cancer , medline , law , economics , microeconomics , sociology , anthropology , political science
Objectives: The objectives of the study were (1) to assess similarities and differences between breast cancer patients and their husbands in terms of doctor‐patient/spouse relationships and shared decision making; and (2) to investigate the association between breast cancer patients and husbands in terms of preference of type of doctor, doctor‐patient relationship, and shared decision making regarding medical treatment. Method: Fifty‐seven women with breast cancer, and their husbands, completed questionnaires measuring doctor‐patient/spouse relationships (paternalism, autonomy), and decision making regarding medical treatment. Results: Patients believe they have a key role in the medical decision‐making process (93%) and that the participation of their husbands, and their agreement with the decision, is important (84% and 89%, respectively). Both breast cancer patients and their husbands prefer a shared decision‐making process to paternalistic or autonomy‐based approaches. Conclusion: In contrast to legal and bioethical approaches, which focus on the patient as the primary decision maker, this study reflects a practical recognition of the role of the breast cancer patient's husband in the decision‐making process. It also reflects a relational rather than an individualistic perception of patient autonomy.