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Patients Right to Die

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Submitted By jenihar132
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11/7/2015
Patient Rights
Today in the twenty-first century, it is a given that patients have certain rights including the right to receive or refuse medical treatments. The common question is, should they also have the right to be allowed to die? This decision presents many concerns regarding ethical dilemmas for the health providers that are involved. In 1973, Donald "Dax" Cowart was 25 years old when he was critically injured in an explosion, sustaining severe burns on over 65 percent of his body (Hillard01, 2011). Dax underwent daily skin treatments that were described as cruel, agonizing and barbaric while only receiving low doses of pain medications (Burt, 1998). He refused all medical care and begged to his doctors as well as other hospital personnel continuously, to let him die (Hillard01, 2011). Doctors felt he was incompetent to make his medical decisions and accepted his mother's written consent to continue his medical care against his will (McGee, 1997). He is now blind, has no use of his hands, and has severe disfiguration (Burt, 1998). Dax has to have a personal caregiver living with him at all times, to assist him with his personal functions (McGee, 1997). In the Dax Cowart case, his mother and doctors both acted in a paternalistic manner, ignoring Dax's wishes and doing what they felt was in the best interest for him. Doctors felt he was incompetent to make his own medical decisions and accepted his mother's written consent to continue his medical care against his will (McGee, 1997). His mother was against terminating his continued care due to her religious beliefs. By acting paternalistically, it violated Dax’s personal freedom and rights to autonomy. When Dax arrived at the hospital, physicians acted quickly to save his life (Hillard01, 2011). Dax underwent two separate psychiatric evaluations and was deemed to be mentally

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