Autonomy, consent, and medical paternalism: Legal issues in medical intervention

Patients are increasingly questioning their relationships with their doctors during a time when use of alternative health care approaches is rising, paternalistic models of health care are waning, and police powers related to health care are expanding. Focusing on the topics of mandatory vaccination and forced medical treatment of children with cancer, this paper reviews issues related to autonomy, informed consent, medical paternalism, forced medical treatment, the police powers of the state, and related legal issues. Based upon this review, it becomes clear that the fight over personal autonomy and paternalism in health care is far from over.