Maryland
How Brophy v. New England Sinai Hospital, Inc. applies in Maryland: state-specific rules, key cases, and bar exam notes for Health Law / Bioethics / Constitutional (Right to Refuse Treatment).
Maryland recognizes the right of patients to refuse medical treatment, aligning with both bioethical principles and constitutional rights. The state upholds patient autonomy while imposing certain standards for assessing capacity to ensure informed decisions.
In Maryland, a competent adult has the legal right to refuse medical treatment, including life-sustaining measures, as long as the refusal is made voluntarily and with understanding of the consequences.
The court affirmed that patients have a constitutional right to refuse medical treatment, including life-saving interventions.
The court provided clarity on surrogate decision-making in cases where the patient is incapacitated, underscoring respect for patient autonomy.
The court held that when a patient lacks decision-making capacity, a guardian must ensure that decisions align with the patient's wishes when known.
Maryland's approach mirrors the federal emphasis on patient autonomy found in landmark cases such as Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health. Nonetheless, Maryland's emphasis on assessing capacity and informed consent adds an additional layer of protection for patients' rights.
Knowledge of patient rights regarding treatment refusal is significant for the Maryland bar exam, particularly in the health law and bioethics sections.