The case of Ms B: suicide's slippery slope?
In the case of Ms B, the High Court ruled that as Ms B was a competent adult patient, her doctors acted unlawfully in overriding her refusal of life-preserving ventilation. This commentary considers whether this case supports the proposition that in English law the right to refuse treatment extends even to refusals which are clearly suicidal.
Keown
J
J
Law Faculty, University of Cambridge, 10 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DZ, UK. ijk1001@cam.ac.uk
D000328:Adult; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016743:Mental Competency; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012297:Right to Die / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006113:United Kingdom
Death and Euthanasia; Legal Approach; Professional Patient Relationship