The case of Ms B and the "right to die".
The High Court in England has ruled that doctors are acting illegally if they refuse to comply with a competent patient's request to switch off their ventilator even if the result would be death. If doctors feel unable to do this then they must arrange for the patient to be transferred to the care of a colleague who is prepared to comply with the request.
Slowther
Anne-Marie
AM
Ethox, Institute of Health Sciences, Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK. anne-marie.slowther@ethox.ac.uk
D000328:Adult; D004739:England; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012297:Right to Die / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
Death and Euthanasia; Legal Approach; Professional Patient Relationship