Ethics, as it pertains to the medical field, …show more content…
Passive euthanasia is the allowance of a person to die by refusal or withdrawal of medical intervention while active euthanasia is the killing of another human being. Assisted suicide is providing of a person the means of committing suicide, while palliative care or providing comfort care accelerates the death process. Recently a new concept was added and physician-assisted suicide is the appearance of an uncertain blend of assisted suicide or active euthanasia that is undertaken by a licensed physician (14th Amendment, U.S. …show more content…
In Bouvia v. Los Angeles Superior Court, 179 Cal.App.3d 1127 (1986), Elizabeth Bouvia suffered from cerebral palsy and arthritis. As a result, she slowly lost the use of her body to the point that she could no longer use her limbs and resided in a public hospital. Bouvia wished to die and refused food; however, medical personnel responded by feeding and hydrating her through a stomach tube inserted through her nose. She sought an injunction compelling removal of the tube, but the court found that Plaintiff could live indefinitely in her state, not being terminally ill, and denied the injunction. Bouvia appealed, petitioning for a writ of mandamus.
The issue is whether or not a competent adult, not terminally ill, can refuse force-feeding as a means to sustain life. The Supreme Court ruled that a competent adult has the right to refuse any kind of medical treatment, including force feeding through tubes. Whether or not a person is terminally ill is not relevant to that person’s rights and a decision to reject medical treatment belongs to the patient alone, and is not to be second-guessed by judges or doctors. In this case, Bouvia is determined to be clearly of sound mind, and her desire to stop treatment must be