TY - JOUR

T1 - A pretty fine line : life, death, autonomy and letting it B.

AU - Biggs, Hazel M.

N1 - RAE_import_type : Journal article RAE_uoa_type : Law

PY - 2003/10/1

Y1 - 2003/10/1

N2 - The cases of Diane Pretty and Ms B. raise crucial issues about decision-making and autonomy at the end of life. Ms B. was permitted her wish to die rather than live permanently dependent upon a ventilator because her case was constructed as one about withholding consent to medical treatment, which every adult with capacity has a right to do. Mrs Pretty, however, sought active intervention to end her life. Requiring assistance to die, and claiming that this was her human right, she sought an assurance that her husband would not be prosecuted if he helped her. Her claim was rejected and the assurance refused. The cases prompt questions about the nature of autonomy, the influence of others and the different way sin which medical and legal decisions are made.

AB - The cases of Diane Pretty and Ms B. raise crucial issues about decision-making and autonomy at the end of life. Ms B. was permitted her wish to die rather than live permanently dependent upon a ventilator because her case was constructed as one about withholding consent to medical treatment, which every adult with capacity has a right to do. Mrs Pretty, however, sought active intervention to end her life. Requiring assistance to die, and claiming that this was her human right, she sought an assurance that her husband would not be prosecuted if he helped her. Her claim was rejected and the assurance refused. The cases prompt questions about the nature of autonomy, the influence of others and the different way sin which medical and legal decisions are made.

KW - autonomy - connectedness - medical decision-making - Pretty

U2 - 10.1023/B:FEST.0000004702.07083.f6

DO - 10.1023/B:FEST.0000004702.07083.f6

M3 - Journal article

VL - 11

SP - 291

EP - 301

JO - Feminist Legal Studies

JF - Feminist Legal Studies

SN - 1572-8455

IS - 3

ER -