Step I Question on ethics/med law

[tega]

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If A parent decides to refuse treatment for a mentally ******ed adult?..DS for instance?.can docs secure a court order..?..(got this off ER)?..

Gosh I hate these ethics Qs,?I feel like I am taking a law exam 😡

 

[lf777]

Getting a court order is not the answer. An adult that is deemed not capable of making medical decisions for themselves, the guardian has decision-making rights. So if the parents refuse treatment they have the right to. You can not go against that decision. Now, if anyone comes to the ER, brought by ambulance for example, and you know nothing about them, you treat until you get more information.

lf

 

[tega]

thanks

but why is there a different approach for a minor.....meaning if parents refuse life saving..limb bla bla bla treatment, MD can secure court order.

 

[EMBess]

I think this varies by state and by what the magistrate who's signing the order is down with, but I don't see why the same rule that applies to minors wouldn't apply to people with MR other than the fact that the MD would be less likely to go down that road in a patient with MR r/t quality of life issues. It's a touchy thing and I don't think it would really be a question since the interpretation can vary so widely based on different laws and different medical conditions...