Consumer-driven care differs from the status quo in terms of patient rights and expenses. Firstly, it allows patients to have more control over the services they receive, the choice of health providers, and the costs of care. Secondly, it increases the individuals’ responsibility for their medical expenses, thus promoting cost consciousness and decreasing the use of unnecessary health services. Moreover, it reduces employees’ healthcare expenditures. Consumer-driven care is also directly tied to the quality of care, as patients can choose the cheapest option without considering its effectiveness or quality. Essentially, consumer-driven healthcare complements patient’s rights by facilitating independent decision-making and encouraging the cooperation between insurance providers and customers.
The key principle that can be applied to consumer-driven care is autonomy. As explained by Dennehy, autonomy refers to the patient’s power in decision-making. Consumer-driven care encourages patients to make choices about their health, thus contributing to patient autonomy. Nevertheless, patients who do not have sufficient knowledge of their condition and medical care, in general, can make wrong decisions, asking providers for unnecessary services or refusing potentially beneficial treatments. Thus, another ethical principle that is essential to consumer-driven care is veracity. While patients should be allowed to influence decision-making, it is also essential for doctors to be truthful about treatments and to provide patients with all the information necessary to make a well-informed decision. Overall, despite some considerations regarding veracity, costs, and quality of care, consumer-driven healthcare is a promising way of supporting patients’ rights while increasing the cost-efficiency of care.