The appointment of medical treatment attorneys: some lessons from Australia.
The appointment of medical treatment attorneys: some lessons from Australia.
复制标题
医疗律师的任命：澳大利亚的一些教训。
DOI：
10.1093/medlaw/6.3.297
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发表时间：
1998
影响因子：
1.7
通讯作者：
Suzanne Woollard
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Suzanne Woollard
近年来，法律委员会关于精神上无行为能力的成年人的各种报告强调了英国法律这一领域改革的必要性。 1 特别是，在精神上无行为能力的成年人和提供合法医疗方面，目前实施的各种程序显然是不够的。尽管英国普通法承认在医疗保健决定方面的自决权，2但没有法定设施可以让成年人在丧失行为能力后正式任命医疗律师来行事。上议院医学伦理特别委员会将这样的人定义为“被任命代表无法为自己做出决定的人做出决定的人。代理决策者可以在有能力的情况下由患者提前提名，或者......可以由法院任命”。 3 法院已确认，具有必要能力的成年人可以同意或拒绝医疗，即使这可能会缩短寿命4，并且拒绝权延伸至通过预先指示的方式拒绝未来治疗的权利。如果制定者有必要的能力拒绝治疗，则可以使用预先指示；没有受到第三方的不当影响；该指令旨在并且确实涵盖了随后出现的医疗情况。“与英国的立场相反，大多数澳大利亚州都实施了立法，赋予个人指定医疗律师的权利。大多数州采取的方法是
The Law Commission's various reports in recent years in relation to mentally incapacitated adults have highlighted the need for reform in this area of English law. 1 In particular, in relation to mentally incompetent adults and the provision of lawful medical treatment, the various procedures which operate at present are patently inadequate. Although the right of self-determination is acknowledged by the English common law in the context of health care decisions, 2 there is no statutory facility for an adult formally to appoint a medical treatment attorney to act after capacity is lost. The House of Lords' Select Committee on Medical Ethics has defined such a person as," someone who is appointed to make decisions on behalf of someone who is unable to make decisions for him or her self. A proxy decision maker may be nominated in advance by the patient while competent, or... may be appointed by the court". 3 The courts have confirmed that an adult with the necessary capacity may consent to or refuse medical treatment, even if this may shorten life4 and the right of refusal extends to a right to refuse future treatment by way of advance directive. An advance directive operates where the maker has the requisite capacity to refuse treatment; is not unduly influenced by a third party; and the directive is intended to and does cover the medical scenario which later arises.'In contrast to the English position, most Australian States have implemented legislation giving a person the right to appoint a medical treatment attorney. The majority of states take an approach which is