Continuing the discussion from Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread:
An ongoing discussion in the above thread caused me to create a new spin off. I’ll quote the sections of my first post on the subject that includes the text of the Poll from the Polls Only thread that prompted the discussion.
@puzzlegal has had numerous, well reasoned responses that put a priority on the customer’s right to choose, as many of us would prefer. Yes, there may be additional risk, but considering the crippling cost of USA’s emergency medical care, it may well be life changing in an entirely different way.
I’m opening up the discussion where we’re no longer subject to interpreting the poll’s scenario, because I think it’s much more important to talk about the situation as a whole.
At which point is the individual’s right to choose more important than their own safety? In the original scenario, only the one individual’s life is at risk - so I outside the limitations of the scenario generally support their choice. But side notes that haven’t been discussed include how do we determine (and IF -we- should determine) if they’re in their right mind? What if it’s a non-physical emergency - such as a mental health crisis. If they don’t want to be treated, should we absent their direct consent?
And that leaves out a related recent medical crisis. COVID. In that case, we’re not just putting ourselves at risk by refusing treatment, or demanding alternate treatment options - we’re putting everyone else around us at risk.
So I’ll reiterate my main opinion: if the only person I put at risk (leaving out possible emotional harm as too intangible to evaluate) is myself, I feel that a person should be made aware of all reasonable and likely risks, and then allowed to make their choice of care, assuming they are of reasonably sound mind.
Yes, that leaves a freaking elephant in the room especially in terms of moral obligations to do no harm for medical professionals, but that’s going to be the subject of endless lawsuits no matter what. I can’t fix that, although the scenario that sparked all this would be made much easier if we could untangle the clusterf*** of the American medical complex.
But when the scenario evolves beyond risk to a single person, whether it be COVID, Typhoid Mary or other historical examples, I find that there is a degree of greater good that is compelling. But I’m not a medical expert, a politician or otherwise equipped to decide where to draw the exact line, other than I know I will eventually do so.
Final note: this is in no way an attack on @puzzlegal, I agree far more than I disagree with them on the subject IMHO, but felt that we were speaking past each other based on my desire to not move beyond the guidelines of the original poll.