The Moral Complexities of Patient Autonomy: Examining the Ethical Dilemma in End-of-Life Treatment for Mental Illness and Death Row Cases
Austin, Texas – Mental health providers face an ethical dilemma when their patients express a desire to forego treatment and enter palliative care. The issue was explored in an article published in The New York Times Magazine, which profiled Naomi, a woman afflicted by anorexia nervosa and who has had no success with traditional interventions. While Naomi is deemed competent to make decisions about her care, the question arises of whether different rules should apply to mentally ill individuals compared to those with physical illnesses. The article highlights the complexity of this moral dilemma without … Read more