Education is more than information- and what do we educate for?

This year at ASCO again and in several meetings we had, there was a lot of talk about patient education. And I begin to notice that some of it just sits uneasily with me.

Firstly I believe that there is a confusion between information and education. A leaflet or a website can provide information- but unless a patient has understood the content and can act on it, it isn't education. It's just- information sitting there.

And then- what do we educate for in the first place? An awful many demands for 'patient education' reek of self-interest. 

'Education' for patients to follow a physician's instructions seems a contradiction in itself- you either demand uncritical obedience, that's an order but not education. Or you educate patients about the reasons why a physician makes certain demands. In that case, the educated patient might well disagree with a physician's judgement and act otherwise. There is maybe manipulation into obedience but education always offers more and not fewer options.

Then there is 'education' for patients to donate money, their time, their blood, their tissue samples and sometimes their lives- you just have to remember the series of equipoise-violating Melanoma trials we have had. 
These are valuable resources, so surely true education would provide patients with the knowledge to choose when, where and to whom to provide their support. 'For scientific progress' or 'the greater good of humanity' rather sounds like a poor sales pitch in this context, especially considering the normal distribution also replies to research- the good, the bad and the ugly are alive and kicking also here.

In my mind, you cannot 'educate to do', only 'educate to empower'- give patients and people in general the information and understanding to make informed decisions on their own behalf. One might sometimes agree, sometimes not. 
Patient education should provide knowledge and more options and with that, a higher degree of protection.