Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Arts
Major
Philosophy
Date of Defense
4-22-2021
Graduate Advisor
Eric Wiland
Committee
William Dunaway
Jill Delston
Abstract
In biomedicine, there are many cases where a patient is incapacitated and unable to make their medical decisions. Often, these patients have no declared decision-maker. This thesis explores solutions which promote these patients’ ability to receive beneficent care and have a respect for their autonomy by proposing a requirement for co-deliberation between a medical professional (medical expert) and someone who knows the patient well (patient expert). This thesis studies a case and applies three solutions: one where each expert has full authority and a final solution where the two experts co-deliberate. Co-deliberation is a conversation between the two experts to promote the best care for the patient while protecting the patient, whom has no declared/authorized decision maker.
Recommended Citation
Grossheim, Lindsey, "Medical Expertise, Patient Expertise, and Surrogate Decision Making: The Importance of Co-deliberation in Medical Decision-Making" (2021). Theses. 399.
https://irl.umsl.edu/thesis/399