"A person's conduct is paternalistic to the extent his or her reasons are to do something to or in behalf of another person for that person's well-being."

"The key element of paternalism derives from the agent, X, acting regardless of the person's, Y's, completely voluntary and informed consent. X's reason is that he or she judges the action to be for Y's well-being regardless of Y's consent to it."

Arguments often offered to justify paternalism

1. "The agent has superior knowledge as to what is in a person's best interest."

2. The client is incapable of giving fully free and informed consent."

3. A person will later come to agree that the decision was correct."