Ethical Dilemma: Patient Autonomy and Public Health Considerations in Infectious Diseases

Introduction: Independence or autonomy is one of the fundamental rights of patients that must be respected by health professionals in all medical interventions and diagnostic and therapeutic measures. In conditions of infectious disease, the health system, in order to fulfill its moral and legal duty to protect the health of the community, is sometimes forced to violate this principle and limit the autonomy and right to choose of patients. This ethical dilemma is the subject of discussion in this article. Material and Methods: The present study is a review of articles, books, and ethical charters in the field of patient and community rights. To achieve the goal, articles and books published between 2000 and 2024 were reviewed. Conclusion: It seems that although violating the principle of respecting the patient's right to autonomy in conditions of widespread disease is morally justified, complete disregard for this right and arbitrary restriction of it without sufficient evidence, in addition to violating the patient's fundamental rights, will also damage public trust and the social capital of the health system, and will make it difficult for this institution to achieve its major goals and attract public participation.