Abstract
Should a man faced with the dreadful diagnosis of throat cancer be permitted to refuse an operation (a radical neck dissection) thought to be best life-prolonging treatment for his condition [13]? Should an elderly inmate of a psychiatric hospital be permitted to refuse a biopsy and follow-up care of a lump in her breast where cancer is suspected [12]? Should a middle-aged man with severe headache and high fever be permitted to refuse care and die when diagnosed to have bacterial meningitis, which is easily treated by antibiotics [6]? Should a bitter hemophiliac be permitted to refuse the care of a woman surgeon just because he is a misogynist [11]?
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Erde, E.L. (1991). Breaking Up The Shell Game of Consequentialism: Incompetence — Concept and Ethics. In: Cutter, M.A.G., Shelp, E.E. (eds) Competency. Philosophy and Medicine, vol 39. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3614-3_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3614-3_14
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