Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Human Rights Law Blogs -> Never In Our Names

Human Rights Law

: Never In Our Names

British Teen Allowed Right to Die

By possum

Where does the responsibility of society end and the right of an individual take over?  The argument continues day by day, but at least one young person has been given the right to make her own decisions as to some parts of the end of her life.  The youngster is refusing a lifesaving heart transplant against the wishes of local doctors and hospital personnel.  Hannah Jones told a news service

I've been in hospital too much - I've had too much trauma.  I don't want this, and it's my choice not to have it.

 

The family received a telephone call saying the hospital would take legal action if they didn't bring Hannah to hospital, said her mother, Kirsty Jones.

Hannah was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 4 years.  Later she was found to have cardiomyopathy (a group of diseases which enlarge your heart muscle or make it thicker and more rigid than normal).  Either way the end result is a failing heart and death without a heart transplant.

Ethicists say

Where consensus cannot be reached between doctors, patients and family, then it is only appropriate that the courts intervene to act in the best interests of the patient.

If the courts intervene the patient is allowed no further choice.  Otherwise the patient may be allowed to refuse treatment even if the refusal comes at the cost of a life.

In this instance the patient was supported by her family in the decision.  In many instances young children are able to understand and to manage their own treatment.  This seems to be the case with Hannah and her circumstance.

The issue of societal intervention comes up often.  We as a society are dedicated to the preservation of life to a degree that sometimes leads a patient into realms they may not enjoy.  The balance is difficult.  The questions are difficult in may instances.  At least for Hannah Jones the choice was clear.  

Peace.

Full post as published by Never In Our Names on November 13, 2008 (boomark / email).