This section discusses the ethics of making medical decisions for patients incapable of such decisions, when there is disagreement about treatment. For instance, should a physician override the decision made by a substitute decision-maker not to administer pain-reducing drugs to the patient who is clearly in pain? Should a 10 year old be allowed to override her parents’ decision for corrective burn surgery because she knows it’s going to hurt?

CONTENTS

1.3 Decisional Capacity

1.4 Substitute Decision-Making

1.5 Medical Decision-Making and Vulnerable Populations

• 1.5.1 Medical Decision-Making and Children
• 1.5.2 Medical Decision-Making and Mature Minors
• 1.5.3 Coercion in Psychiatric Rehabilitation

1.6 Elder abuse and neglect

1.7 What are the physician’s obligations when a patient is “discharged against medical advice”?