Autonomy by Default

Using Default Options and Other Nudges to Improve Critical Care

“…42 Because no options are removed, nudges are less threatening to autonomy than many standards in healthcare that clinicians routinely accept such as the formulary restrictions applied in most hospitals and criteria limiting the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. However, because debate exists regarding whether nudges might occasionally infringe upon autonomy, 43,44 applying nudges to patients or caregivers merits careful justification. We have recently argued that nudges in healthcare are ethically justified so long as they are set to promote the known or reasonably assumed best interests of those affected by the nudges.…”