Why Doctors Should Recommend: Professional Responsibility and Patient Autonomy

A recommendation by me is not the same as an order. When I advise a pregnant patient not to smoke, or to wear a seat belt, I am not controlling her choices.

Imagine if a doctor, when asked whether you should wear a seatbelt, simply said: “It’s up to you.” Or whether you should smoke says: “Your choice”. No mention of safety, no recommendation, no guidance. Would you feel supported—or abandoned?

In medicine, some believe that offering a strong recommendation risks limiting a patient’s autonomy. I believe the …