Abstract

This paper proposes a novel relational view of autonomy designed to overcome the inadequacies of procedural and substantive views of autonomy as they relate to physician-assisted suicide (PAS) requests for individuals with diminished cognitive functioning. Traditional and other relational views of autonomy regard a patient as an “isolated monad,” ignore patients with limited personal autonomy, and overlook the contexts in which decisions like PAS are made. However, these weaknesses become the strengths of a synthesized relational view of autonomy, which enhances the personal autonomy of those with limited personal autonomy so that their PAS requests can be granted.