For these reasons, we suggest that the language of respect for persons is better suited to describing how physicians should think about and act toward their patients. It was identified as one of three ethical principles guiding human subjects research in the Belmont Report 16 and has been invoked frequently ever since.
However, we disagree with the notion that individuals must be autonomous to qualify as persons. In our account of respect for persons, we remain attached to a pre-philosophical but no less valid notion of personhood.
To a first approximation, and certainly for the purposes of clinical practice, we hold that all living human beings are persons, and consequently, deserving of respect. Thus, all patients are persons, in our view. There may be some loss of philosophical sophistication and precision in adopting this view, but we believe that an enriched understanding of respect in clinical practice is worth this risk.
Having established that persons are the appropriate object of respect, we turn our attention to describing what the nature of that respect entails. Such feelings are often couched in the language of respect. Physicians may remark that they have particular respect for patients who are able to persist in spite of serious illness. On the other hand, intravenous drug addicts and alcoholics may be viewed quite differently because they are regarded by some as undeserving of respect.
Whatever else we might say about respecting people in this sense, it is clear that admiration is not something we could owe to everyone equally. We might aspire to find something admirable in everyone, something to relate to, but our ability to respect them cannot be dependent on the success of that enterprise. We will invariably find some people to be admirable or pleasant to be around, and others not. If indeed there is a moral or professional duty of physicians to respect every patient which we believe there is , it cannot be founded on this conception of differential respect.
By contrast, the type of respect that we are concerned with here and which we suggest is morally required is one that is unconditionally owed to all patients, simply because they are persons.
There is a certain irony here. Our conception of respect, which involves valuing patients as persons, is on one level not really concerned with the differences between individuals that make them unique. Although we are not opposed to the idea that physicians ought also to value the individuality of particular patients in fact, we endorse it , in promoting the duty to respect, we seek to acknowledge something else about persons, something that everyone has in equal measure. Thus, we base our conception of respect on the belief that all persons have unconditional intrinsic value as human beings.
Finally, we wish to emphasize that our conception of respect involves valuing patients, or at the very least, acknowledging their value. This attitude of valuing will typically express itself in certain behaviors—extending common courtesies, expressing concern for others and their well-being, taking their feelings and experiences seriously.
Indeed, many accounts of respect in medicine and in the professional education of physicians rightly emphasize behaviors.
These behaviors therefore must be responsive to each individual patient. Thus, in our account of respect, we wish to emphasize the attitude, which may be more universal than any given set of behaviors. Actions and behaviors are certainly important, but are not a sufficient substitute for having a genuine attitude of respect.
If respect for a person entails recognizing the value of a person, as we have suggested, it will come in two forms: believing the person has value and acting in light of that belief. The two should not be confused. It may be possible to act in a way that is interpreted as respectful without having the corresponding attitude of respect. One may simply behave that way because someone else is watching or because one wants to avoid the consequences of not being courteous.
Conversely, it may be possible to have an attitude of respect and still behave in a way that is inappropriate e. Behaving respectfully and courteously to patients is clearly important, and we do not mean to suggest that such behaviors ought to be ignored or discounted. Our point is that physicians do not fulfill their moral responsibility unless they also engage in the internal work of appreciating the value of the people they treat.
An unreflective emphasis on behaviors with a corresponding de-emphasis on the essential attitudes may have undesirable effects. He is an intellectual giant, and I have great respect for him. They failed to respect the treaty they had signed, and invaded.
As respects the rights of land owners, this law says nothing. This year's model is superior to last year's in several respects.
I'm disappointed in your decision, but I respect it. From now on she'd have a lot more respect for the art of romancing. Either he would give her due respect or he could find another sitter. All rights reserved. Filters 0. Words form: respected respects. See word origin. Respect is defined as to feel or show esteem or honor for someone or something.
An example of respect is being quiet in a cathedral. Respect means a feeling or show of honor or esteem for someone or something. Respectively vs. Respectfully Respectively vs. Respectfully Respect the differences between this pair. Phrases Related to respect be no respecter of persons pay one's last respects pay one's respects.
Style: MLA. Kids Definition of respect Entry 1 of 2. Kids Definition of respect Entry 2 of 2. Get Word of the Day daily email! Test Your Vocabulary. Test your vocabulary with our question quiz! Love words? Need even more definitions? Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms The same, but different. Merriam-Webster's Words of the Week - Nov. Helpful Notes Different generations practice respect in different ways. In other words the position is what gains immediate attention and respect.
Of course as they get to know the person, respect might wane or fluctuate. Respect has to be earned.
0コメント