The Autonomous Patient: Ending Paternalism in Medical Care

Research into patient medical care from the perspective of the patient. The author, a social scientist with 19 years experience of research into health services, has been awarded a Fellowship by the Nuffield Trust to support the production of this study. The topics include: The case for change - evidence of sub-standard care, meeting expectations, treatment choices, patient-centred care; Public confidence and expectaions - international comparisons, media influences, encouraging false expectations: Patient as decision-maker; Managing care and ensuring safety; Assessing and improving health care delivery - feedback, measuring patients' experience, performance indicators; Rights, resposibilities and accountability; What can be done in primary care - understanding patients' preferences and expectations.