Medical Treatment and Physicians’ Legal Duties

  • Robert Schwartz
  • Paul Nathanson
  • Jack Hardwick
  • Laura Mason
  • Nancy Scanlan Neary
Chapter

Abstract

An alternative that goes hand-in-hand with limited guardianship and conservatorship is medical treatment. In the past, behavioral symptoms that are associated with aging evoked “therapeutic nihilism.”1 The attitude that nothing could be done for an elderly person with symptoms of mental illness led to custodial care in hospitals and nursing homes, rather than to effective treatment programs. A growing body of medical opinion, however, disagrees with the belief that mental disorders associated with old age are unbeatable.2 If many such disorders are treatable, then the need for plenary guardianship should be dramatically limited, or at least postponed for a seemingly incompetent patient until after a treatment program is administered. However, in the context of treating an elderly person with symptoms of a mental disorder, a physician will encounter situations in which he or she is required by law to act. Even when no legal compulsion may be present, the law may offer a physician options for action that may be of benefit to his or her patient.

Keywords

Elderly Person Senile Dementia Expert Testimony Legal Duty Valid Consent 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. 1.
    Horstman PM: Protective services for the elderly: The limits of parens patriae. Mo Law Rev40: 234, 1975.Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Horstman PM: Protective services for the elderly: The limits of parens patriae. Mo Law Rev40: 273, 1975.Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    National Paralegal Institute: Elder Abuse and Neglect: A Guide for Practitioners and Policy Makers. 1981.Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    Special Committee on Aging, United States Senate. Protective Services for the Elderly: A Working Paper. 95th Congress, 1977, 1st Session, p 46.Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    American Bar Association Commission on Men-tally Disabled: Guardianship and conservatorship: Statutory survey. Model Statutes 1979, PP 4–5.Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Frolik LA: Plenary guardianship: An analysis, A critique and a proposal for reform. Ariz Law Rev23: 625, 1981.Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    Atkinson G: Towards a due process perspective in conservatorship proceedings for the aged. J Family Life18: 825, 1980.Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Annas G, Glantz L, Katz B: The rights of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, in A Health Law Primer. New York, Avon Books, 1981, pp 178 – 79.Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    Annas G, Glantz L, Katz B: The rights of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, in A Health Law Primer. New York, Avon Books, 1981, p 180.Google Scholar
  10. 10.
    Alexander G, Lewin T: The Aged and the Need for Surrogate Management. Syracuse, NY, Syracuse University Press, 1972, p 18.Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    Horstman PM: Protective services for the elderly: The limits of parens patriae. Mo Law Rev40: 254, 1975.Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    Frolik LA: Plenary guardianship: An analysis, A critique and a proposal for reform. Ariz Law Rev23: 640, 1981.Google Scholar
  13. 13.
    Restatement (Second) of Torts, 1979, p 19.Google Scholar
  14. 14.
    Schloendorff v Society of New York Hospital, 211 NY 125, 105 NE 92(1914).Google Scholar
  15. 15.
    Prosser W: Law of Torts. 1971, p 106.Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    Restatement (Second) of Torts, 1979, pp 375–376.Google Scholar
  17. 17.
    Restatement (Second) of Torts, 1979, pp 364–370.Google Scholar
  18. 18.
    Cobbs v Grant, 8 Cal3d 229, 104 Cal Rptr 505, 502 P2d 1 (1972).Google Scholar
  19. 19.
    Restatement (Second) of Torts, 1979, p 363.Google Scholar
  20. 20.
    Barnette v Potenza, 79 Misc2d 51, 359 NY Supp2d 432 (1974).Google Scholar
  21. 21.
    Natanson v Kline, 186 Kan 393, 350 P2d 1093, reh den 187 Kan 186, 354 P2d 670 (1960).Google Scholar
  22. 22.
    Canterbury v Spence, 464 F2d 772 (DC Cir), cert denied 409 US 1064 (1972).Google Scholar
  23. 23.
    Comment: Informed consent in medical mal-practice. Cal Law Rev55: 14, 1967.Google Scholar
  24. NM Stat Ann Section 41-5–6 (1978).Google Scholar
  25. 25.
    Schroeder OC: Insurance protection and damage awards in medical malpractice. Ohio St Law J25: 330, 1965.Google Scholar
  26. 26.
    Rosoff AJ: Informed Consent: A Guide for Health Care Providers. Rockville, MD, Aspen Systems, 1981, p 58.Google Scholar
  27. 27.
    Fogel v Genesee Hospital, 41 App Div2d 468, 344 NY Supp2d 552 (1973).Google Scholar
  28. 28.
    Prosser W: Law of Torts. 1971, p 165.Google Scholar
  29. 29.
    Prosser W: Law of Torts. 1971, pp 161–166.Google Scholar
  30. 30.
    Di Fillippo v Preston, 3 Storey 539, 53 Del 539, 173 A2d. 333 (1961).Google Scholar
  31. 31.
    Rosoff AJ: Informed Consent: A Guide for Health Care Providers. Rockville, MD, Aspen Systems, 1981, pp 38 – 41.Google Scholar
  32. 32.
    Rosoff AJ: Informed Consent: A Guide for Health Care Providers. Rockville, MD, Aspen Systems, 1981, pp 41 – 51.Google Scholar
  33. 33.
    Prosser W: Law of Torts. 1971, p 103.Google Scholar
  34. 34.
    Kennedy v Parrott, 243 NC 355, 90 SE2d 754 (1956).Google Scholar
  35. 35.
    Jackovach v Yocum, 212 Iowa 914, 237 NW 444 (1931).Google Scholar
  36. 36.
    Schwartz R: Some ethical and legal considerations. Psychopharmacol Bull17: 67, 1981.Google Scholar
  37. 37.
    O’Brien v Cunard SS Co, 154 Mass 272, 28 NE 266 (1891).Google Scholar
  38. 38.
    Rosoff AJ: Informed Consent: A Guide for Health Care Providers. Rockville, MD, Aspen Systems, 1981, pp 234 – 236.Google Scholar
  39. 39.
    Cal Prob Code Sections 1801, 1880, 2355 (West 1981).Google Scholar
  40. 40.
    NM Stat Ann Sections 45-5-101–45-5-502 (1978).Google Scholar
  41. 41.
    Rosoff AJ: Informed Consent: A Guide for Health Care Providers. Rockville, MD, Aspen Systems, 1981, p 233.Google Scholar
  42. 42.
    In the Matter of William Schiller, 148 NJ Super 168, 372 A2d 360 (1977).Google Scholar
  43. 43.
    Prosser W: Law of Torts. 1971, p 104.Google Scholar
  44. 44.
    Schwartz R: Some ethical and legal considerations. Psychopharmacol Bull17: 68, 1981.Google Scholar
  45. 45.
    Ratzan R: Being old makes you different: The ethics of research with elderly subjects. Hastings Center Report10: 38, 1980.Google Scholar
  46. 46.
    Ratzan R: Being old makes you different: The ethics of research with elderly subjects. Hastings Center Report10: 35, 1980.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  47. 47.
    Alexander GJ: Age and the law, in Perspectives on Aging: Exploding the Myth. Cambridge, MA, Ballinger, 1981, pp 45 – 69.Google Scholar
  48. 48.
    Canterbury v Spence, 464 F2d 111 (DC Cir), cert denied 409 US 1064 (1972), p 69.Google Scholar
  49. 49.
    Ratzan R: Being old makes you different: The ethics of research with elderly subjects. Hastings Center Report10: 36, 1980.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  50. 50.
    Waltz JR, Scheuneman TW: Informed consent to therapy. NW Univ Law Rev64: 645, 1970.Google Scholar
  51. 51.
    Meisel A: The “exceptions” to the informed consent doctrine: Striking a balance between competing values in medical decision making. Wisc Law Rev1979, pp 454 – 455.Google Scholar
  52. 52.
    Schwartz R: Some ethical and legal considerations. Psychopharmacol Bull17: 66, 1981.Google Scholar
  53. 53.
    Ratzan R: Being old makes you different: The ethics of research with elderly subjects. Hastings Center Report10: 37, 1980.Google Scholar
  54. 54.
    Palmore E: Cultural influence on aging, in Perspectives on Aging: Exploding the Myth. Cambridge, MA, Ballinger, 1981, pp 257 – 275.Google Scholar
  55. 55.
    Alexander GJ: Age and the law, in Perspectives on Aging: Exploding the Myth. Cambridge, MA, Ballinger, 1981, p 57.Google Scholar
  56. 56.
    Rosoff AJ: Informed Consent: A Guide for Health Care Providers. Rockville, MD, Aspen Systems, 1981, pp 247 – 248.Google Scholar
  57. 57.
    Lane v Candura, 376 NE2d 1232 (Mass App 1978).Google Scholar
  58. 58.
    In the Matter of Edith Armstrong, 573 SW2d 141 (Mo App 1978).Google Scholar
  59. 59.
    Schwartz R: Some ethical and legal considerations. Psychopharmacol Bull17: 69, 1981.Google Scholar
  60. 60.
    President’s Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research: Making Health Care Decisions: The Ethical and Legal Implications of Informed Consent in the Patient-Practitioner Relationship. Report 1982, Vol 1, pp 182–183.Google Scholar
  61. 61.
    Capron AM: Informed consent in catastrophic disease treatment and research. U of Pa Law Rev123: 424 – 425, 1974.Google Scholar
  62. 62.
    Palmore E: Cultural influence on aging, in Perspectives on Aging: Exploding the Myth. Cambridge, MA, Ballinger, 1981, p 259.Google Scholar
  63. 63.
    Alabama (1981), Arkansas (1977), California (1977), District of Columbia (1982), Delaware (1982), Idaho (1977), Kansas (1979), Nevada (1977), New Mexico (1977), North Carolina (1977), Oregon (1977), Texas (1977), Vermont (1982), and Washington (1979).Google Scholar
  64. 64.
    In re Quinlan, 70 NJ 10, 355 A2d 647, cert denied sub nom, Garger v New Jersey, 429 US 922 (1976); Superintendent of Belchertown State Hospital v Saikewicz, 373 Mass 728, 370 NE2d 417 (1977); Matter of Spring, 380 Mass 629, 405 NE2d 115 (1980); Severns v Wilmington Medical Center, 421 A2d 1334, on remand, 425 A2d 156 (Ch 1980); Leach v Akron General Medical Center, 68 Ohio Misc 1, (Common Pleas 1980); Matter of Dinnerstein, 380 NE2d 134 (Mass App 1978); Eichner v Dillon, 52 NY2d 363, 438 NYS2d 266, 420 NE2d 64, cert denied, 454 US 858 (1981); Satz v Perlmutter, 379 So2d 360 (Fla 1979) (dicta), Matter of Colyer, 99 Wash2d 114, (1983).Google Scholar
  65. 65.
    State ex rel Smith v Fort (NM Sup Ct No 14678, Feb 23, 1983).Google Scholar
  66. 66.
    Ratzan R: Cautiousness, risk, and informed consent in clinical geriatrics. Clin Res1982, pp 345 – 353.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag New York, Inc. 1984

Authors and Affiliations

  • Robert Schwartz
  • Paul Nathanson
  • Jack Hardwick
  • Laura Mason
  • Nancy Scanlan Neary

There are no affiliations available

Personalised recommendations