--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Autonomy is absolutized in principle and…" description: "\"“Autonomy is absolutized in principle and practice. This may lead to the second response, namely, that physicians will accede to whatever the patient o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/edmund-d-pellegrino-84746_family_autonomy-is-absolutized-in-principle-and_1655256.jpg" --- # Autonomy is absolutized in principle and practice. This… ![“Autonomy is absolutized in principle and practice. This may lead to the second response, namely, that physicians will accede to whatever the patient or valid surrogate wants. This prompts the physician to transfer all responsibility to patients, family, or friends. This occurs with alarming…” quote by Edmund D. Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/edmund-d-pellegrino-84746_family_autonomy-is-absolutized-in-principle-and_1655256.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/edmund-d-pellegrino-84746_family_autonomy-is-absolutized-in-principle-and_1655256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/edmund-d-pellegrino-84746_family_autonomy-is-absolutized-in-principle-and_1655256.jpg) > ““Autonomy is absolutized in principle and practice. This may lead to the second response, namely, that physicians will accede to whatever the patient or valid surrogate wants. This prompts the physician to transfer all responsibility to patients, family, or friends. This occurs with alarming frequency in the care of infants, the elderly, and demented patients who may be over- or under-treated because their surrogates demand it. Indeed,”” Edmund D. Pellegrino ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage warns that absolute patient autonomy can shift responsibility to surrogates, risking over‑ or under‑treatment, especially for vulnerable groups. **In simple terms:** Too much autonomy may lead to inappropriate care for patients. Key Takeaway Balance autonomy with professional guidance. Themes medical ethics patient rights responsibility Mood cautious concerned Type ethical clinical When to use this quote - hospital policy - family decision‑making - elderly care - neonatal care Key Concepts bioethics clinical practice elder care Questions to Reflect On - When should clinicians intervene in surrogate decisions? - How to protect vulnerable patients while respecting autonomy? A Different Perspective It may underestimate patients’ capacity for informed decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Surrogate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrogate/) [Surrogates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrogates/) ## Related quotes > [For me, and maybe for many religious kids of the '60s, the church lost relevance the more it became a surrogate in the movement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccurry/for-me-and-maybe-for-many-religious-kids-of-the-60s-the-church-lost/) [Mike McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccurry/) > [All the time I was playing the flute, the lines, the solos, the riffs, the construction, were based on my guitar skills. 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