Refusing The Right To Refuse

Under the doctrine of informed consent, if a person is competent to understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives to proposed treatment, that person is allowed to decide whether to accept or reject the proposed treatment. Informed consent is not required if the person is incompetent or if an emergency arises that necessitates treatment to save the person's life.
Nevertheless, various devices are used to deny mentally disordered persons their right to refuse treatment even when they are co…