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Paternalism (by Dworkin):
Pure:
When a law or rule restricts someone freedom in order to protect them from their own potentially bad decisions.
Impure:
When a law or rule is made that sort of disables someone from even being able to make a decision that could harm themselves. (cigarette regulations).
Collective-action problem: examples are prisoners dilemma, where it’s best for everyone to get together and decide on something, but they may not be able to. Often, what you can conclude is that in these situations, it’s safest for yourself to be selfish and act in the interest of yourself.
1. Patients should usually be able to make whatever decisions they want. Within the limits of medicine.
2. Doctors should not be forced to do procedures that they don’t want to do. But there’s also the case about when the patient might die, which should be handled separately.
Ackerman.
Swartz: