Ethics board: 'Self-inflicted disease' concept should go
The national Advisory Board on Healthcare Ethics holds annual meetings on particular ethical problems in the healthcare sector, most recently on the uncertain standing of personal autonomy and sickness.
The meeting looked at the issue of ‘self-inflicted illness’, plus when and how sick and excluded people are discounted. Its conclusions were that the concept of ‘self-inflicted illness’ should be rescinded, and that the part which patients may have in the development of illness should not affect the treatment given them.
The board also found that though people’s responsibility for preventing themselves from falling sick may be emphasised, becoming sick cannot be determined. People who fall ill should not be discounted or excluded according to notions of rights to autonomy.
The board argued that the border between respecting and discounting rights to autonomy is blurred. The welfare state has to pay sufficient attention to people who do not have the power or opportunities to take care of their own welfare, health or illnesses.