The term "incompetent patient" refers to a condition in which a patient lacks the capacity to make substantially autonomous decisions about his or her own care (Hoefler 36). ... If an individual is terminally ill, his emotional health and rationality are questionable. ... However, nearly all states recognize the patient's rights to refuse all treatments, Fourteenth Amendment "prohibits others from invading one's body against one's will," including food and fluids, if they are terminally ill and become permanently incompetent (Hoefler 170). Physicians are legally obligated to fo...

• Word Count: 3506
• Approx Pages: 14
• Has Bibliography

In passive euthanasia, by withholding intravenous feedings, medications, surgery, a pacemaker, or a respirator, the doctor can let the patient die of the underlying disease. ... Starting with the moral analysis of the patient who desires to go through euthanasia, we could say that his or her wish has some logical arguments. ... According to an American doctor (Kass, 1991), "killing patients - even those who ask for death- violates the inner meaning of the art of healing". ... The surgeries, life support, drugs, doctor's fees and all the other expenses of a terminally ill patient are stag...

• Word Count: 3258
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

Doctor Joseph Evers says, "To say that a patient on a ventilator, declared brain dead and is certain to die, is no longer a person, is to deny reality. ... As a physician, that person is obligated to do all that is in his power for the best interest of the patient. ... As stated also in the Associated Press Nader said he was concerned that the law was targeting terminally ill patients who suffer from depression or worry about being a financial burden to their relatives. ... An advance directive contains instructions regarding medical treatment requested by the patient, to guide health care ...

• Word Count: 2799
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School