Autonomy in healthcare refers to the right of patients to make decisions about their medical care without experiencing undue influence or coercion from healthcare providers. It is a cornerstone of medical ethics and law, and it is usually expressed as the right of competent adults to make informed decisions about their own medical care. Autonomy requires both "liberty" (independence from controlling influences) and "agency" (capacity for intentional action) . Two conditions are ordinarily required before a decision can be regarded as autonomous: the individual has to have the relevant internal capacities for self-government and has to be free from external constraints.
Respecting patient autonomy means acknowledging that patients who have decision-making capacity have the right to make decisions regarding their care, even when their decisions contradict their clinicians’ recommendations. However, autonomy does not mean that patients can make decisions that are harmful to themselves or others. Healthcare providers can educate patients, but they cannot make decisions for them.
Empowering patients to have control over their healthcare instills personal dignity, value, and respect. It can increase self-esteem and confidence, and it is key to a persons autonomy and personhood. Good practices around the world show that it is possible to respect peoples autonomy, especially by involving them in their own healthcare planning, assessment, and management, for example, through shared decision-making, advanced planning, supported self-management, and person-centered recovery approaches to care.
