Autonomy-based bioethics and vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic: towards an African relational approach.
Theor Med Bioeth
; 45(3): 183-197, 2024 Jun.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38789700
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has provoked new interest in the notion of vulnerability and in identifying alternative approaches for responding to vulnerable patients and populations during health emergencies. In this paper, I argue that the autonomy-based approach (the most dominant approach in bioethics) to responding to vulnerability during health emergencies is deficient because it focuses only on the interests, values, and decisions of the individual patient. It overly emphasizes respect for autonomy and not respect for the patient as it does not consider the patient as a social and relational agent. Indeed, relational approaches to autonomy like the feminist and indigenous sub-Saharan African ethical approaches are promising alternatives. In this essay, I use the indigenous African relational approach to autonomy as an example of an alternative method which can be used to respond to vulnerability during a global health emergency like COVID-19.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Autonomía Personal
/
Poblaciones Vulnerables
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Theor Med Bioeth
Asunto de la revista:
ETICA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Camerún
Pais de publicación:
Países Bajos