The book Bioethics: Principles, Issues, and Cases 2nd Edition

Bouvia v. Superior Court, California Court of Appeals (textbook pages 109-113)

In this 1986 ruling, the California Court of Appeals asserted that competent adults have a constitutionally guaranteed right to decide for themselves whether to submit to medical treatments, a right that outweighs the interests of physicians, hospitals, and the state. A competent patient may refuse treatments even if they are needed to keep her alive.

What were the events in Bouvias life leading up to the court decision?

What did the court say about a patients right to refuse treatment?

According to the court, does a patients intent to hasten her death give a hospital reason to try to force treatment upon her? What was the courts reasoning on this issue?

In light of the recent passage of the End of Life Option Act, recently signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown, how do you believe the Bouvia court would respond if the case were filed today?