RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Applying best interests to persistent vegetative state--a principled distortion?
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 86
OP 92
DO 10.1136/jme.24.2.86
VO 24
IS 2
A1 Fenwick, A J
YR 1998
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/24/2/86.abstract
AB "Best interests" is widely accepted as the appropriate foundation principle for medico-legal decisions concerning treatment withdrawal from patients in persistent vegetative state (PVS). Its application appears to progress logically from earlier use regarding legally incompetent patients. This author argues, however, that such confidence in the relevance of the principle of best interests to PVS is misplaced, and that current construction in this context is questionable on four specific grounds. Furthermore, it is argued that the resulting legal inconsistency is distorting both the principle itself and, more particularly, individual patient interests.