[A professional duty to heal!].
The rules of South African law are analysed, especially any possible rules which may impose a duty upon a medical practitioner to heal in cases where the patient refuses treatment. The conclusion is reached that a refusal of medical treatment expressed on behalf of a minor child or an unconscious patient might safely be ignored by a medical practitioner, but that an express refusal by a major patient of full legal capacity should be heeded. It is also concluded that, according to South African law, there rests no legal duty upon a medical practitioner to treat a patient where such treatment--even if necessary to save the patient's life--is refused by the patient himself. Therefore, where the conditions imposed by a Jehovah's Witness preclude a medical practitioner from practising good medicine, he should refuse the case.
D002648:Child; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D010290:Parents; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013019:South Africa
'n Beroepsplig om te genees!