Abstract:
This work argues that the principle of autonomy set forth in the Principalist theory
of biomedical ethics should be replaced by "the just distance"-a concept first suggested
by Paul Ricoeur. Beginning with the prevailing critique of autonomy in feminist
philosophy and medical ethics, the paper then explains why a principle encompassing
narrativity, relationality, and singularity would provide a better guiding standard for the
doctor-patient encounter than the current rule of "respect for autonomy". The final
chapter gives examples ofhow the just distance can be used in a clinical setting, and
responds to possible critiques of this new principle.