Should Seriously Ill Patients be allowed to Refuse Medical T essays

Should Seriously Ill Patients be allowed to Refuse Medical T essays There are two ways to look at the issue of patients refusing to take medical treatment. The first way would be through the eyes of the patient. What are the patients rights? Who decides what the patients rights are? Can a patient refuse treatment? On the other hand, we have the medical aspect. What do the doctors do if someone does not want treatment? What is their obligation to the patient? Is it forcing treatment on the patient? This is a very controversial issue in our society today. And unfortunately it will be an on-going issue for years to come. So what are the rights of the patient when it comes to medical treatment? Lets take parenting for example. Parents make medical decisions for their children until they are 18 and are considered adults by law. That should not change when someone becomes ill and needs medical treatment. It seems that when someone becomes seriously ill everyone else decides what the patient needs and doesnt need. As adults patients should be able to make decisions on their own with the input of medical staff and their family. Sarah Guy believes that, If patients are adults, they have every right to refuse medical treatment for any reason. Furthermore, doctors and family members in many cases think that a patient losses their right to make decisions when they become ill. In some situations, more so with a mental illness, a patient may not be coherent and because of that may make poor decisions for themselves. Lee E. Obermeyer feels that patients should be able to refuse treatment on certain terms. The first is that the patient be given a psychological exam to determine if he /she is able to make the decision. Once the patient is deemed competent, they must undergo a meeting with the medical staff to discuss the aspects of treatment. If the patient wishes to deny any treatment, they may do so at this time. Is there a responsibility to the hospitals a...