Does a cancer patient have the right to refuse treatment without fearing forced treatment?

Question

Lets just say "said person" is tired of being sick and tired of medication.

Answer 1

Yes.
In fact its vest to refuse treatment from the mainstream meducal profession, and seek an alternative treatment. There are many cures available.

Read this report.


http://dgwa1.fortunecity.com/body/cancer.html

Answer 2

Yes, anyone of legal age can refuse treatment of any kind. In the case of a minor child, the parent or guardian has the right to refuse treatment but legal action could be taken if the medical professionals feel that refusal is not in the best interest of the child. Many times in the case of a terminal cancer the medical professionals involved are in full agreement with the patient and wish only to medicate so the patient is in relative comfort.

Answer 3

A month ago I would have said that you had the right
to refuse treatment, but in the last month I have
learned a new truth....

I am currently in the Bahamas with my Mother who has
Terminal Lung Cancer. There is a clinic here that has
been in operation for over 30 years. We have been here
for 4 of our 8 week stay, everyday is really neat. A
lot of the patients stick around in the meeting room/
waiting room to visit, and share stories and catch up.
There were 40 people all talking and laughing, talking
about cancer and life, the returning patients talk
about how bad their cancer was 4, 8, 10 even 18 years
ago when they started coming to the clinic, the cancer
that has since disappeared. There is nothing dangerous
or foreign to the treatment, just building up your
immune system in a very effective manner. If you want
to know more contact me or go to
www.immunemedicine.com I cannot tell you how impressed
I am with what I have seen and how my Mother has
already improved.

The stories I have heard from the other patients here
about how they were treated by US medicine astound me.
One lady went home to have a shunt put in her liver so
she would be ok to come here, but they refused to put
it in unless she agreed to do chemotherapy, is that
what our country is about? Denying helpful procedures
unless we agree to dangerous, toxic ones?

Another lady developed diabetes as an affect of her
cancer and required insulin. When she turned down
their suggested treatment to come to the clinic, they
refused to give her insulin.

Yet another lady was denied a cat, pet or MRI scan
after radiation to see her progress unless she agreed
to their suggested continued treatment.

They were not forced into treatment, but if they
wanted needed medicine, scans or surgeries, they had
to agree to the doctors chosen treatments.

My grandmother had a blocked tear duct that was very
annoying and painful, but could be taken care of with
a simple surgery. The procedure was scheduled, then
she found out she had terminal cancer with less than a
year to live, so they would no longer perform the
surgery because she was "dying anyway". So she
suffered, and her eye eventually sealed itself closed
as a result and she had to live with that irritation
until her last day.

My Mom cracked a vertebrae as a result of her cancer
so we went to see a neurosurgeon to see what needed to
be done for it. He said "nothing" because she would
die from the cancer anyway. Her oncologist had not
labeled her a terminal at that point, so it was not
his place to say such a thing let alone diagnose a
disease he does not treat. I asked, what he would do
for her to fix it (ie. surgery, etc) once/ if the
cancer was gone and he refused to even hypothesize
since there was "no hope for her." (By the way she is
doing quite well right now)

I know some doctors think they are God, but who
actually gave them the power to be God.

I know that this does not happen at every clinic or
hospital, but it is happening in our country and it is
wrong. When did we start bartering with our health care
decisions?

I am proud to be an American but I think our
health care system needs a serious moral overhaul.

I have heard so many similar stories that it just
makes me sick to think we can treat our own people
this way in their time of need.

Answer 4

I have been a cancer survivor for six years but the cancer has left behind scars that will never heal. I have no food passage or air passage. All I have is liquid feed ( but really high in protein etc and mantain a steady weight) through a tube called the PEG tube inserted directly into my stomach and breathe through a hole in my throat, which luckily I can put my thumb on it to control the air in and out to talk and I have a pretty good speech. Keeping in mind - I have not eaten a single meal in 6 years - not a drop of water and knowing I never will and then knowing I will never be able to breathe or talk normally and knowing that the cancer has resurfaced, do you think I will be willing to go through all the pains of medication ever again? No -.Not in this lifetime.
To come directly to your question - as long as you are sound of mind noone can force you to take treatment. You may ask for pain killers to reduce the cancer pains but you do have the right to refuse treatment.

Answer 5

yes they have every right to refuse treatment and such, even those under 18 have some medical rights to refuse medicine and treatment.

Please try to understand that chemo and radiation are very taxing on a person. My mother in law has been doing chemo off and on for 10 years trying to keep her cancer at bay, it's amazing that she'll go back for treatments when she knows the side effects.

Support and love are the best things they need right now!

Answer 6

A patient has the right to refuse ANY treatment. Living wills and advanced directives are also useful when planning how a patient would like to receive their care. In the event the patient is unable to voice their decisions on their treatment the living will and AD will be consulted.

Answer 7

if the person is a minor than only their parents can refuse further treatments , but anyone over 18 can refuse any treatment for anything. if the cancer is terminal , i would say quit treatment and enjoy whats left of life. once we were told that my sons cancer was terminal he asked me if he could stop all treatments , i let him, he said if it wont cure him he just wanted to be left alone to do what he wanted . we took him everywhere he wanted to go and he died at home with me by his side.

Answer 8

Even people under the age of 18 can refuse any type of medical treatment, if a judge believes they aren't being coerced.

In the US, we have the right of self determination, that is to say, to decide to treat or not to treat our bodies.

Answer 9

An adult patient with any illness-including cancer-- may refuse treatment if they are in their right mind. if they are found to be incompetent someone else will be appointed through the court to take over the patients medical care.

Answer 10

No, I don't believe they can. Maybe if they are over age they can, but if they are under age they can't. Consider the sixteen year old boy that, a few months ago, had to go through weeks of trials just to get his own treatment. His parents even had to deal with social services for child neglect when they were just supporting his decision. How sad is that??? Be strong, though. Go through anything to get freedom. I hate to assume that you live in the US, but if you do that is what this country is supposed to be so great for. We are free and should be free to make our own decisions. Do what you think is best!!!

Answer 11

If this person is over 18 and of sound mind they can sign A living will also a D.N.R (do not resuscitate) for as long as they can speak for them self but later when they can't, family members need to respect their decision They can have comfort measures like pain meds. and breathing treatments ,Oxygen and choose to give up,they can also choose different treatments then the ones they have tried first.