Person-Centered Decision Making Lesson
Completion requirements
This lesson is comprised of readings, personal reflection activities and a video. It will take approximately 1.5 hours to complete.
8. The Role of the “Third Person”
PCDM often includes individuals other than just the person and provider. Family members, friends, surrogates, religious/cultural leaders, or health advocates can also be involved in the decision making process. The effects of the role of a “third person” on clinical encounters have been studied and well documented (12, 13). They can:
- Facilitate or inhibit the development and maintenance of a trusting professional relationship
- Play multiple roles
- Affect the duration of the encounter and/or impact the content of the interaction
- Significantly change the basic clinical relationship, no matter how minor the involvement