Case one: Patient autonomy and the freedom to act against one's self-interest.
A 16-year-old Hodgkin lymphoma patient refuses to have his blood specimen drawn, thus canceling his scheduled oncologic treatment. As a 16-year-old, he has no legal standing as an adult. His parents are split over his decision. One supports his right to choose; the other wishes the specimen to be drawn and the chemotherapy reinstated. The physicians at the hospital are seeking legal redress to have the court order the blood specimens to be taken.
Department of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA. jmulnix@umassd.edu
Jennifer Wilson
JW
Mulnix
D000293:Adolescent; D001675:Bioethics; D005610:Freedom; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence