Which statement best characterizes strong paternalism?

• A. Overriding the actions of a completely autonomous person
• B. Overriding the actions of a person who is substantially autonomous
• C. Never overriding autonomous decisions
• D. Only applies to minors

Answer: (B)

Strong paternalism involves intervening to override the decisions of someone who has substantial decision-making capacity in order to prevent self-harm or promote welfare. The key is that the person is substantially autonomous—they understand options, can reason about consequences, and can communicate a choice—yet the clinician still intervenes to steer toward a different course. This is why overriding the actions of someone who is substantially autonomous best captures strong paternalism: it targets a capable individual, not someone whose autonomy is clearly lacking, and it reflects a more intrusive step than simply respecting their stated wishes. It’s not limited to minors, and it isn’t typically framed as overriding completely autonomous decisions, which would be an even stronger or different kind of intervention. Weak paternalism, by contrast, would involve overruling decisions when autonomy is not substantial.