RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The case of Ms B: suicide’s slippery slope?
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 238
OP 239
DO 10.1136/jme.28.4.238
VO 28
IS 4
A1 Keown, J
YR 2002
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/28/4/238.abstract
AB In the case of Ms B, the High Court ruled that as Ms B was a competent adult patient, her doctors acted unlawfully in overriding her refusal of life-preserving ventilation. This commentary considers whether this case supports the proposition that in English law the right to refuse treatment extends even to refusals which are clearly suicidal.