Landmark United States Biomedical Ethics Cases

ABSTRACT

The past thirty years have demonstrated a dramatic shift in the traditional physician-patient relationship, from one that has traditionally been paternalistic, or physician-focused, to one that recognizes patient autonomy and is predominately patient-centered. This evolution of patient autonomy has revolutionized the field of medical-legal ethics, as evidenced by the numerous landmark court cases described in this paper. Patients have demanded, and received, the right to make their own decisions about a variety of issues, many of them end-of-life decisions, including withholding treatment, withdrawing treatment, refusing treatment, whether or not to be resuscitated, and their right to die with dignity. Technological advances in the areas of human experimentation, resuscitation, organ transplantation, and assisted reproduction have contributed to the ethical dilemmas faced by patients, physicians, ethicists, and the courts. Due in large part to this shift in attitude and behavior from paternalism to patient autonomy, and technological advances that allow people to live indefinitely, medical-ethical issues never before encountered are now in the forefront of many peoples' lives. The landmark United States ethical-legal cases cited here illustrate society's change in attitude which favors autonomous decision making by an increasingly consumer-oriented public.

Key Words:

• Biomedical ethics
• medical-legal ethics