Reconciling Individual Autonomy and Family Decision-Making in Palliative Care in China

As pilot programs for hospice and palliative care deepen in China, conflicts have emerged in clinical practice between Western ethical principles centered on ‘patient autonomy' and the traditional Chinese family-centered decision-making model, leading to widespread dilemmas regarding informed consent and family conflicts in decision-making. The sinicization of palliative care practice should not involve simply replacing one model with another. Instead, it should be based on a profound understanding of the local culture to achieve ‘relational autonomy', thereby constructing a palliative care ethical system that genuinely aligns with China's national context and can effectively guide clinical practice.