The Saikewicz Decision

Abstract

AFTER a delay of some 16 months, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has issued a full opinion concerning life-death decisions on patients.¹ The decision has caused great consternation among Massachusetts physicians and hospitals. Physicians involved in intensive care of infants and adults alike, physicians in burn centers and physicians and hospitals caring for terminally ill patients are frankly reacting in disbelief at the news reports about the case; lawyers representing medical clients waited to read the decision and, after reading it, could only respond that the news reports were correct. The Court really did mean that all decisions on either . . .