Citation

Richardson G. Int. J. Law Context 2013; 9(1): 87-105.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S174455231200050X

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In a society where suicide is lawful how should we respond to a life-threatening treatment refusal by someone whose decision-making might be affected by a mental disorder? In considering this question this article examines the three established concepts currently employed by the law to analyse such cases: mental capacity, best interests and mental disorder. It then considers whether a supported decision-making model based on a notion of universal capacity, such as that espoused by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, might alleviate some of the dilemmas arising from the application of the traditional legal concepts. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013.

Language: en