CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne
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Historical views of the patient-physician relationship assumed that the physician's role was to act in the best interests of the patient and to direct care and make decisions about treatment on the patient's behalf. However, under current legal and ethical principles, beneficence is no longer sufficient; respect for autonomy is paramount, necessitating patient participation. None the less, physicians question whether patient participation is realistic in actual clinical situations. ⋯ To be understood, health information must be presented in a way that is appropriate to the patient. Format, content and timing of the material are all important. Mechanisms for incorporating such information into busy clinical practices are crucial.