Allowing Patients to Die: The concept of patient authority.
Should doctors accept the refusal of medical treatment that is recommended? After putting some thought into it, one realizes that there is no easy way of answering this. That really it comes down to the individual cases with distinct circumstances. Other people might say that if a sane patient is refusing some form of treatment, then that decision is one to be respected. Patients own their bodies and doctors have no moral right to force therapy on them. He/she is free to discuss a clearer explanation, explaining why in his/her medical opinion the treatment is their best option. If the patient makes it clear that they have made their decision, then that should be the end of discussion.
Should doctors accept the refusal of medical treatment that is recommended? After putting some thought into it, one realizes that there is no easy way of answering this. That really it comes down to the individual cases with distinct circumstances. Other people might say that if a sane patient is refusing some form of treatment, then that decision is one to be respected. Patients own their bodies and doctors have no moral right to force therapy on them. He/she is free to discuss a clearer explanation, explaining why in his/her medical opinion the treatment is their best option. If the patient makes it clear that they have made their decision, then that should be the end of discussion.