Together decide? The views on informed consent for public health care of Onora O'Neill

In this paper I compare a 'narrow' conception of informed consent for public health interventions with a broad one. More specifically I focus on the views of Onora O'Neill on this topic. The narrow conception is characterized by an emphasis on free individual choice & by metaphors of 'transmitting' or 'disclosing' information. This conception, I argue, leads to a large scope of application; all medical procedures are deemed to necessarily require an informed consent procedure. The broad conception, by contrast, allows for a less rigid application. According to the broad conception, informed consent is only important in as far as communicative norms, such as honesty & integrity, come into play. I look at the implications of this view for public health measures & modify the conclusions of Onora O'Neill. References. Adapted from the source document.