Decision making in patients with anorexia nervosa: a bioethical and methodological challenge

The refusal of patients with anorexia to undergo medical treatment may create strong ethical dilemmas for health professionals, obliging them either to accept decisions that leave patients at risk or to apply treatment against their patients' will. In this paper we discuss the issue of mental c...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Ramos Pozón, Sergio, Robles del Olmo, Bernabé, Sevilla Guerra, Sonia
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2022
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/186118
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/186118
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Anorèxia
Alienació mental (Dret)
Presa de decisions
Bioètica
Anorexia
Insanity (Law)
Decision making
Bioethics
Description
Summary:The refusal of patients with anorexia to undergo medical treatment may create strong ethical dilemmas for health professionals, obliging them either to accept decisions that leave patients at risk or to apply treatment against their patients' will. In this paper we discuss the issue of mental capacity in patients with anorexia who consent to or refuse a specific treatment. We also review personal identity as an important factor in decision-making and discuss three decision-making styles: the subjective criterion, substituted judgment, and the best interest principle, and highlight the serious challenges associated with each one.