Irrational Patient Rights

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses whether a patient's irrational decision to refuse treatment is binding to a health care professional. The paper explores the arguments for and against the rights of irrational patients and brings several case studies to light. The paper reveals that the health care professional is bound to treat irrational patients who cannot be held accountable for their actions. The paper therefore shows that if there is no other family member or responsible party available, the health care professional must make some difficult and demanding choices, for if they do not, they could put themselves and their facility at risk of court action and liability.

Outline:
Introduction
Argument
Counterargument
Response
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Patient's rights are a critical concern in the health care profession today, and few will argue that a competent patient has the right to free will and to choose what happens to their own body. Some patients with religious convictions may choose to refuse certain treatments, such as abortion, and some patients from other cultures may refuse certain types of treatment that do not agree with their cultural beliefs. However, anyone who consciously desires treatment should be treated by the health care professional."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hord, J. D., Rehman, W., Hannon, P., Anderson-Shaw, L. and Schmidt, M.L. (2006). Do parents have the right to refuse standard treatment for their child with favorable-prognosis cancer? Ethical and legal concerns. Retrieved from the Journal of Clinical Oncology Web site: http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/full/24/34/5454 17 Oct. 2007.
• Richards, E.P. and Rathbun, K.C. (2007). Medical risk management. Retrieved from the Louisiana State University Web site: http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/books/aspen/Aspen-Chapter-9.html 17 Oct. 2007.
• Silvers, A. (2007). The individual rights of the difficult patient. The Hastings Center Report, 37(2), 13+.

More papers on Irrational Patient Rights:

• Essay # 86092 : "Patients' Rights"
• Analytical Essay # 145662 : "Informed Consent and Patient Rights in Modern Medicine"
• Case Study # 72533 : "Medical Ethics and Patients' Rights"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: