Letters

The Patient's Bill of Rights

Hello,

One of the bullet points under the Patient's Bill of Rights is the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of the medical consequences of your action.

My question is, what exactly is 'the extent permitted by law', and how is it determined? For example, if I were a competent adult who was terminally ill with cancer, could I refuse to undergo chemotherapy even if my doctor prescribed it and felt it would save my life? Or could the authorities step in and compel me to take it?

Dear Reader,

Patients have the right to refuse treatment, however medical legal (ethical/legal) requirement is that the patient should be deemed cognitively stable (by the doctor) to be able to make a rational decision. In the case of such refusal, the patient (cognitively stable) is still entitled to be informed of the medical consequences of refusal of care; and directed to other appropriate care and services that the hospital provides, or to transfer to another hospital. Otherwise, the doctor intervenes in the best interest of the patient.

For a minor, the court reserves the right to make decisions in the interest of the child where the decision of the parent/guardian is in conflict with the chosen mode of care by the medical staff.

Sincerely,

Dr Hilda Ming nurse educator at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Send questions and comments to our health specialists at Your Health, c/o The Gleaner, 7 North Street, Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com. Unless otherwise indicated, letters and the specialist's responses are usually published.