Is it Possible to Determine the Competency of a Patient?

Overview

The contemporary medicine goes through a deep transition with regard particularly to humanization; modern ethicshas effected sundry changes in attitudes to patients and one of them is the edification of her/his right to make choicesabout her/himself. The concept of autonomy however meets the problem of assessment of the level to which theconcrete patient is capable of making decision due to various impairments and strains. One possible criterion, whichis compliant with traditional philosophy and which is based on rationality is suggested here.

Key words:
autonomy, informed consent, competence, rationality, argument.