Doctors, Patients, and Nudging in the Clinical Context--Four Views on Nudging and Informed Consent

Am J Bioeth. 2015;15(10):28-38. doi: 10.1080/15265161.2015.1074303.

Abstract

In an analysis of recent work on nudging we distinguish three positions on the relationship between nudging founded in libertarian paternalism and the protection of personal autonomy through informed consent. We argue that all three positions fail to provide adequate protection of personal autonomy in the clinical context. Acknowledging that nudging may be beneficial, we suggest a fourth position according to which nudging and informed consent are valuable in different domains of interaction.

Keywords: clinical context; informed consent; libertarian paternalism; nudging; personal autonomy.

MeSH terms

  • Beneficence
  • Choice Behavior*
  • Coercion
  • Comprehension
  • Freedom
  • Humans
  • Informed Consent / ethics*
  • Paternalism* / ethics
  • Personal Autonomy*
  • Persuasive Communication*
  • Physician-Patient Relations / ethics*
  • Physicians / ethics