It emphasises the autonomy of the individual, and involves respect for the rights of individuals to make decisions about actions which affect them. The principles of informed choice and consent are autonomy , responsibility and accountability . The guidelines indicate how the principles should be implemented. In any individual case, autonomy may be influenced by the cultural values and beliefs of the individual. The principle of autonomy requires that the right of each person to individual beliefs, desires, values, and goals be respected and safeguarded.
Health care involves an agreed transaction between providers and users of services.
Since the relationship behind the transaction is often an unequal one, special care is required to ensure respect for the autonomy of users. The following guidelines for autonomy are given in the context of each of these key points. Guidelines for Principle 1 1.1 Communication 1.1.1 Effective communication is the key to enhancing autonomy. In general, communication is necessary before any proposed treatment, procedure, examination, teaching, or research commences. This will not always be possible.