Extension of Consent: Issues Thereof

"He alone is free who lives with free consent under the guidance of reason"-Spinoza¹

The four major principles of medical ethics are: a) Respect for autonomy of the patient, b) Beneficence, c) Non-malfeasance, and d) Equitable Justice.² The most important of these is the principle of Respect for Patient Autonomy. Many ethical questions in medical practice will be answered by asking foremost what a patient ‘wants’, and not what the doctor/family/believes to be the best for him.

The most important aspect of modern medical ethics is the respect for patient autonomy and the fundamental principle of informed consent and patient confidentiality. Ethical practice involves a systemic approach to decision making and actions, considering the interests of all affected by that decision.

Many doctors do not follow this fundamental ethical principle and behave in a "Paternalistic" way with their patients, either by extending the previously taken consent or even taking “Proxy" consent. The issues related to it are being dealt with, in the light of the Hon'ble Supreme Court Decision in the Samira Kohli case.³