維護病人尊嚴

Preservation of Patient Dignity

陳美伶(Mei-Ling Chen)

《志為護理-慈濟護理雜誌》 11卷4期 (2012/08) Pp. 66-71

https://doi.org/10.6974/TCNJ.201208.0066

摘要

人類的生命存在何處，尊嚴就在何處。人在身體功能喪失時的同時，也會對尊嚴產生威脅，故維護病人尊嚴亦為醫療照護之首要。維護病人尊嚴是一種尊重的態度，包括尊重其獨特性、尊重隱私、尊重病人有得到充分資訊的權利；而自主性是人性尊嚴的表現，即病人能有自我作決定並參與治療的決策過程及參與自我照護的權力。未能維護病人尊嚴，即是對病人的不尊重，會讓病人感受到被視為一個物體，而非一個「人」，並感受到照護者的冷漠及被社會摒棄與疏離感，也會讓病人缺乏自我價值感，並影響心理的健康及恢復的過程，甚而在病人未獲得充分的醫療資訊下斷然施於醫療，亦可能對病人及家屬產生無法抹滅及挽回的傷害。盼此文能激發並喚起眾人對病人尊嚴的認識與護持，在增進醫療及護理品質的同時，亦能提升生命品質。

關鍵字

病人尊嚴 ； 尊重 ； 自主

並列摘要

Dignity is an integral component of human life. People may be threatened with loss of dignity as they face a decline in physical function. For this reason, preserving patent dignity should be regarded as priority in medical care. Preservation of patient dignity is regarded as an attitude of respect, which entails respect of individuality, privacy, and the right to receive complete information; autonomy is the manifestation of human dignity, signifying the patient’s power to self-choice, participation in therapeutic decision making and self-care. Inability to preserve patient dignity is equated to disrespecting the patient, and such disrespect leaves patients feeling being regarded as an object rather than a human being; in conjunction with the caregiver's apathy and a sense of social abandonment and alienation would induce in patients with lack of self-worth, significantly affects the patient's mental health as well as rates of recovery. Furthermore, imposing treatment without providing adequately information to patients could result in irreversible harm to patients and their families. Through this paper, we hope to raise awareness amongst the medical community and the general public regarding the comprehension and preservation of patient's dignity, and to improve the quality of life when dedicated to enhancing the quality of medicine and nursing.

並列關鍵字

Autonomy ； patient dignity ； respect