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Can A Pregnant Woman Refuse Medical Treatment

Can A Pregnant Woman Refuse Medical Treatment. While common and constitutional law protect the right to refuse medical treatment, courts have compelled the medical treatment of pregnant women on rare occasions, citing the states’ interest in protecting fetal life as recognized in abortion jurisprudence. In certain situations, a pregnant woman might refuse therapies that the medical professional believes are necessary for her health or survival, that of her fetus, or both.

ACLU sues Catholic hospitals for refusing pregnant women
ACLU sues Catholic hospitals for refusing pregnant women from slate.com

Judicial intervention and the right of pregnant women to refuse medical treatment les haberfield* i introduction in the last ten years, several cases have been reported in the united states involving court intervention to compel a competent pregnant woman to give birth by caesarean section against her will. Today, in an updated committee opinion, the american college of obstetricians and gynecologists (acog) addresses the ethical considerations surrounding the care of an obstetrical patient who. When pregnant women, children, and adolescents are able to give consent for recommended treatment, the question arises whether they are equally competent to refuse it and prevent their decisions being overridden by guardians or courts.

Do You Oppose The Current Standard Of Care For Ectopic Pregnancy?


Today, in an updated committee opinion, the american college of obstetricians and gynecologists (acog) addresses the ethical considerations surrounding the care of an obstetrical patient who. The right to refuse treatment also applies to a pregnant woman even though the exercise of the right to refuse treatment may result in the death of her unborn child. Her husband is in agreement with her decision.

Can I Say No To Treatment?


And, justice requires that all persons be treated equally. During the course of a pregnancy, a woman may need to make many decisions about current or future medical treatment. In our society, we allow people the right to refuse medical treatment and the right to refuse to subordinate their desires or needs to the needs of others.

Darlene Brown Appealed The Circuit Court Order That Had Appointed The Temporary Custodian For Her Unborn Fetus, Contending That, Under Federal And Illinois Law, She Had The Right As A Competent Adult To Refuse Medical Treatment.


It is probably far more common, however, for pregnant women to engage in some sort of behavior that potentially could be harmful to the fetus, such as smoking, consuming alcohol, and using drugs like heroin and cocaine, than it is for them to refuse medical treatment. You can refuse treatment even if your doctors or midwives think you are wrong. Though in this case i would think that this would be pretty rare.

Pregnant Women Do Not Generally Refuse To Follow The Treatment Plans Outlined By Their Attending Physicians.


Therefore, when they do refuse to submit to medical procedures that physicians deem are either beneficial to pregnant women or their fetuses, legal and ethical issues may arise. In certain situations, a pregnant woman might refuse therapies that the medical professional believes are necessary for her health or survival, that of her fetus, or both. This article fills this void.

While Common And Constitutional Law Protect The Right To Refuse Medical Treatment, Courts Have Compelled The Medical Treatment Of Pregnant Women On Rare Occasions, Citing The States’ Interest In Protecting Fetal Life As Recognized In Abortion Jurisprudence.


You can say no to treatment even where it might lead to your death, or your baby’s death. Those decisions may be about routine procedures and medication (for example, blood tests and antibiotics) or life sustaining treatments (for example, an emergency caesarean or blood transfusion). A competent adult may refuse treatment even if his/her life depends on it.

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