An example of a situation where deferential vulnerability might be a factor is the physician-patient relationship. In this context, patients often feel a strong sense of trust and dependence on their doctors, who hold authority and specialized expertise. Patients may worry that refusing to participate in a study or treatment could negatively affect their medical care or disappoint their physician, leading to a power imbalance that compromises truly autonomous decision-making

. Other examples include:

• A college professor recruiting among their students, where students might feel obligated due to the professor’s authority and potential impact on grades.
• An employer recruiting among employees who directly report to them, where employees may feel pressured due to fear of job loss or career consequences.
• An army medical officer recruiting subjects among lower ranks, where lower-ranking soldiers may feel compelled due to military hierarchy

Among these, the physician-patient scenario is often cited as the quintessential example of deferential vulnerability because of the personal health implications and high levels of trust involved