Shared decision making as a strategy for vulnerability in health

Abstract

The premise that every human being is vulnerable by nature stems from the notion of vulnerability as susceptibility to harm, as well as the interrelations and intrinsic interdependence of human beings with their socio-environmental context. It is up to society to establish institutions capable of promoting both the protection and autonomy, under equal conditions. Besides the professional duty to inform patients of the benefits and harms from possible interventions, including the consequences of denying any intervention, patient-centered care integrates a collaborative approach that considers shared decision-making essential. This theoretical review analyzes the concept of vulnerability and its relations with respect for and promotion of patient rights, proposing and justifying shared decision-making as a good strategy for mitigating increased vulnerabilities.