ABSTRACT
Our views on the protection of vulnerable persons in health care contain a paradox. We strongly agree that vulnerability is important and protections for the vulnerable are required. This consensus, which is central in the clinical management of weakened or marginalized persons, is taken up by international texts that often deal with the protection of vulnerability, and of the most vulnerable persons in priority, as a minimum requirement (Institute of Medicine 2003; WHO 2008; WHO Regional Office for Europe 2005). Yet at the same time, we have very little idea regarding what vulnerability is or how to protect vulnerable individuals. This difficulty is illustrated by how often we get the protections for vulnerable persons wrong. To correct this, we need a clear view of what makes us vulnerable and of what appropriate protections might look like.
