Respect for Patient Autonomy: A Patient Perspective

Abstract

There appears to be dissatisfaction by patients in Ghana with the way their doctors communicate with them. The perception is that doctors fail to respect their autonomy by failing to adequately inform them of their health condition and also fail to involve themin their health care decisions. Patients want doctors to use their medical training to promote a partnership in the doctor-patient relationship where the doctor uses his or her superior knowledge and skill in medicine to acknowledge, encourage and support the patient’s right to self-determination in his or her health care. If doctors did that, patients will be more satisfied, the doctor-patient relationship will be enriched, trust between the doctor and his patient will be enhanced and patient care will also be enhanced. Although there may be difficulties for doctors to adopt this approach, those difficulties are not insurmountable.