Diminished Autonomy applies to which populations?

• A. People Under 12 Or With Alzheimer's
• B. Healthy Adults With Full Decisional Capacity
• C. Individuals Who Decline Treatment
• D. Aged 65 and Older Regardless of Capacity

Answer: (A)

Autonomy in medical ethics rests on having the capacity to understand, appreciate, reason about, and communicate a health decision. Diminished autonomy describes those who lack that full capacity. Children under 12 typically cannot provide informed consent on their own, so decisions are made by parents or guardians. Similarly, individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other significant cognitive impairments may struggle to understand or weigh consequences, making surrogate decision-making or best-interest determinations appropriate.

Healthy adults with full decisional capacity retain autonomy, as do individuals who actively decline treatment (their choice reflects their own autonomous preference), and older adults whose capacity remains intact. Age alone does not define diminished autonomy; it’s about the actual capacity to make informed decisions.