Woman Refuses Caesarian Section, Charged with Murder
Wednesday March 24, 2004
Doug writes: Let's take a look at what we are really talking about here. One human that is being legally required to undergo a medical procedure (a serious one at that) in order to save the life of another human. I can't think of a single case where this is true except that it seems to be expected of pregnant woman. I mean, think about it. Can you think of any other case where one human is forced to undergo a medical procedure to save the life of another human? Is a mother legally required to give up a kidney to her child if he will die without it? Could she be charged with murder if she refused and the child died? It's nonsense no matter how you look at it, a human can not be legally required to undergo dangerous medical procedures to save another, period. I don't even want to think about where that slippery slope leads.
On the one hand, it does sound as though the woman acted irresponsibly - although not necessarily in a criminal way. On the other hand, Doug here makes a very good and very important point. Upon what legal and even ethical basis can we require a person, even a mother, to undergo a serious and possibly dangerous operation to save the life of another? Getting the operation is surely moral, but is refusing it really immoral? Read More...
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