chanel
Silver Member
In a case that could have nationwide implications, Trinitas Regional Medical Center here wants an appeals court to decide whether hospitals can refuse to continue life support over the objections of a patients family.
The hospital argued it should also be able to decide, in certain cases, whether to end life support even if patients have written directives stipulating they want life-sustaining efforts to continue.
The state Supreme Court ruled in the mid-1970s that patients and their families have the right to decide when and whether to remove life support regardless of what a hospital says.
Indeed, Gary Riveles, the attorney representing Trinitas, said hospital physicians "have to have the right to say enough is enough. The patient or patients surrogate should not have the unfettered right to maintain life when there is no chance left.""This may be a case of first impression in New Jersey (the first of its kind), but it is going to be a recurring problem as our generation ages," Riveles said.
N.J. court to rule whether hospitals may refuse life support despite wishes of families, patients | - NJ.com
Silly Sarah...