Skip to main content

Gendered Adaptive Preferences, Autonomy, and End of Life Decisions

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Studies in Applied Philosophy, Epistemology and Rational Ethics ((SAPERE,volume 10))

Abstract

Other essays in this volume focus on how we may adapt our preferences to available health opportunities. In the late stages of a terminal illness, we may come to underestimate the desirability of a high-functioning life. Increases in the availability of life-extending technology may make it difficult to perceive value in the normal experience of aging. However, health opportunities are not the only circumstantial factors that stand to influence our end of life choices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Babbitt, S.: Feminism and Objective Interests: The Role of Transformation Experiences in Rational Deliberation. In: Alcoff, L., Potter, E. (eds.) Feminist Epistemologies, pp. 245–265. Routledge, New York (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartky, S.: Feeding Egos and Tending Wounds: Deference and Disaffection in Women’s Emotional Labor. In: Bartky, S. (ed.) Femininity and Domination: Studies in the Phenomenology of Oppression, pp. 99–119. Routledge, New York (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bevans, M.F., Sternberg, E.M.: Caregiving Burden, Stress, and Health Effects among Family Caregivers of Adult Cancer Patients. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 307, 398–403 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bookwala, J., Coppola, K., et al.: Gender Differences in Older Adults’ Preferences for Life-Sustaining Medical Treatments and End-of-life Values. Death Stud. 25, 127–149 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bratman, M.: Structures of Agency: Essays. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2007)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Brudney, D.: Choosing for Another: Autonomy and Best Interests. Hastings Cent Rep. 39, 31–37 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colburn, B.: Autonomy and Adaptive Preferences. Utilitas 23, 52–71 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawley, L., Payne, R.: Palliative and End of Life Care in the African-American Community. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 284, 2518–2521 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donchin, A.: Autonomy, Interdependence, and Assisted Suicide: Respecting Boundaries, Crossing Lines. Bioethics 14, 187–204 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elster, J.: Sour Grapes: Studies in the Subversion of Rationality. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankfurt, H.: The Importance of What We Care About. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1988)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, M.: Autonomy, Gender, Politics. Oxford University Press, New York (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, M.: Autonomy and the Split-Level Self. Southern J. Philos 24, 19–35 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, D.W., Rayner, L.L., et al.: Gender Differences in Prevalence of Depression Among Patients Receiving Palliative Care: The Role of Dependency. Palliative Med. 26, 696–702 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, A.: The Individualist Model of Autonomy and the Challenge of Disability. Bioeth Inq. 5, 193–207 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, A.: Relational Autonomy or Undue Pressure? Family’s Role in Medical Decisionmaking. Scand J. Caring Sci. 22, 128–135 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, M., Lin, L., et al.: Patients’ Perceptions of Physicians’ Recommendations of Comfort Care Differ by Patient Age and Gender. J. Gen. Int. Med. 15, 248–255 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khader, S.J.: Must Theorizing about Adaptive Preferences Deny Women’s Agency. J. Appl. Philos 29, 302–317 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khader, S.J.: Adaptive Preferences and Women’s Empowerment. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2011)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Khader, S.J.: Adaptive Preferences and Procedural Autonomy. J. Hum. Dev. Capabil 10, 169–187 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kittay, E.F.: Love’s Labor. Routledge, New York (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackenzie, C.: Relational Autonomy, Normative Authority, and Perfectionism. J. Soc. Philos 39, 512–533 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLeod, C.: Self-trust and Reproductive Autonomy. MIT Press, Cambridge (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M.: Women and Human Development: The Capabilities Approach. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  • Oshana, M.: How Much Should We Value Autonomy? Soc. Philos Pol. 20, 99–126 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rietjens, J.A.C., Deschepper, R., et al.: Medical End-of-Life Decisions: Does its Use Differ in Vulnerable Patient Groups? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Soc. Sci. Med. 74, 1282–1287 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruddick, S.: Maternal Thinking. Beacon Press, Boston (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A.: Gender and Cooperative Conflicts. In: Tinker, I. (ed.) Persistent Inequalities: Women and World Development, pp. 123–149. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, L.M., Noll, R.C.: Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: Disproportionate Prevalence of Women among Dr. Kevorkian’s Patients. Gender Med. 5, 110–114 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Superson, A.: Deformed Desires and Informed Desire Tests. Hypatia 20, 109–126 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winzelberg, G.S., Hanson, L., Tulsky, J.A.: Beyond Autonomy: Diversifying End of Life Decision-Making Approaches to Serve Patients and Families. J. Am. Geriatr Soc. 53, 1046–1050 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Serene J. Khader .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Khader, S.J. (2013). Gendered Adaptive Preferences, Autonomy, and End of Life Decisions. In: Räikkä, J., Varelius, J. (eds) Adaptation and Autonomy: Adaptive Preferences in Enhancing and Ending Life. Studies in Applied Philosophy, Epistemology and Rational Ethics, vol 10. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38376-2_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics