Admin Table of Contents
What is withholding of treatment?
Such decisions can essentially take one of two forms: withdrawing – the removal of a therapy that has been started in an attempt to sustain life but is not, or is no longer, effective – and withholding – the decision not to make further therapeutic interventions.
Is withholding treatment legal?
These include: • Sanctity of life • Withholding and withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment are omissions not acts • Withholding and withdrawing treatment are legally equivalent • Any deliberate attempt to shorten life or cause death is a criminal act • Euthanasia either active or passive is unlawful • Competent …
Who decides which treatment option is in the best interests of a newborn patient?
Surrogate decision makers do not know what the patient would want done and are thus charged to decide in the best interests of the patient. In most cases, parents are appropriate surrogate decision makers for their children and should give primacy to the best interests of their child.
Do I have the right to refuse medical treatment?
An adult patient with capacity has the right to refuse any medical treatment, even where that decision may lead to their death or the death of their unborn baby. This right exists even where the reasons for making the choice seem irrational, are unknown or even non-existent.
Can you refuse life saving treatment?
After a competent patient chooses to forego a life-sustaining treatment or procedure, the healthcare team is faced with only one option: We must support the wishes of the patient that will ultimately result in his or her death. Forcing treatment on a patient without his or her informed consent is illegal.
Does a child have the right to refuse medical treatment?
A child under the age of 18 who lives independently without the support of parents and makes his or her own day-to-day decisions may petition the court for emancipation. If granted, the minor will have the same legal rights as an adult, including the right to consent to (and refuse) medical treatment.
Can parents refuse treatment for their child?
Parents have the responsibility and authority to make medical decisions on behalf of their children. This includes the right to refuse or discontinue treatments, even those that may be life-sustaining. However, parental decision-making should be guided by the best interests of the child.