Commentary on Glannon and Ross, and McKay
- Correspondence to: Professor S A M McLean, Institute of Law and Ethics in Medicine, Glasgow University, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland; S.A.M.McLean{at}law.gla.ac.uk
- Accepted 3 December 2001
- Revised 2 December 2001
Abstract
The patient-doctor relationship has recently come under intense scrutiny, resulting in a re-evaluation of the basis of that relationship. The papers by Glannon and Ross, and McKay seek to identify the sources of authority in the patient-doctor relationship by evaluating it in terms of the concept of altruism. In this paper I argue that the analysis of Glannon and Ross, and of McKay is unnecessary and that the analysis offered by the latter is also flawed. I do acknowledge, however, that Glannon and Ross's description of doctors' responsibilities and patients' roles has much to commend it.
