When clients are unable to make decisions for themselves and no DPOAHC has been designated, the resolution can involve unilateral decisions by health care providers. This approach is known as?

When clients are unable to make decisions for themselves and no DPOAHC has been designated, the resolution can involve unilateral decisions by health care providers. This approach is known as?

• A. Standards of Best Interest
• B. Paternalism
• C. Veracity
• D. Distributive Justice

Answer: (B)

Paternalism is when health care providers make decisions for a patient because the patient cannot decide for themselves and no surrogate is available. In this situation, the patient lacks decision-making capacity and there is no designated durable power of attorney for health care, so clinicians may act unilaterally to protect the patient’s welfare. This approach prioritizes beneficence and nonmaleficence, aiming to do what’s best for the patient even if it overrides the patient’s autonomy. Veracity is about truthful communication to patients. Distributive justice concerns fair allocation of resources. Standards of Best Interest refers to evaluating what would benefit the patient, but the unilateral, provider-driven decision-making described here is specifically characterized as paternalism.

Paternalism is when health care providers make decisions for a patient because the patient cannot decide for themselves and no surrogate is available. In this situation, the patient lacks decision-making capacity and there is no designated durable power of attorney for health care, so clinicians may act unilaterally to protect the patient’s welfare. This approach prioritizes beneficence and nonmaleficence, aiming to do what’s best for the patient even if it overrides the patient’s autonomy.

Veracity is about truthful communication to patients. Distributive justice concerns fair allocation of resources. Standards of Best Interest refers to evaluating what would benefit the patient, but the unilateral, provider-driven decision-making described here is specifically characterized as paternalism.