A response to the open peer commentaries on “patient and citizen participation in health: the need for improved ethical support"

In my target article “Patient and Citizen Participation in Health: The Need for Improved Ethical Support” (Williamson 2014) I argued that to fulfill the promise many see in participation it is important to provide appropriate ethical support for such diverse initiatives. I questioned the adequacy of contemporary health ethics to respond routinely to the challenges presented by participation initiatives in a convincing, beneficial manner. More specifically, I argued that the interrelational nature of even the most individually focused forms of participation (patient-centered care) is not well served by readings of autonomy that prioritize noninterference or a focus on individual consumer choice. Similarly, public involvement efforts that require even greater social awareness will struggle to thrive in such an ethical environment.