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Constructing competence: formulating standards of legal competence to make medical decisions.

Year: 1996

Type: article

Abstract: A young woman twenty-six weeks pregnant and dying from cancer lies heavily sedated and attached to a respirator. Is she competent to determine what life-prolonging measures should be taken, or to consent to an emergency cesarean section that may save her fetus but will probably shorten her life? A quadriplegic young man wishes to end his life and requests a court order granting immunity for the medical staff who will unhook his respirator and administer sedatives. Is he competent to choose to die? A person's competence will have implications for whether he or she is allowed to decide what type of treatment, if any, is received; whether treatment is discontinued, including life-sustaining treatment; and whether medical professionals implementing decisions are exposed to civil or criminal liability.

Source: PubMed

Authors: J W Berg, P S Appelbaum, T Grisso

Institutions: University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Case Western Reserve University

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W1483772548

FWCI: 1.051

Cites:

Cited by: 80

Related to: 10