Consequently, the physicians petitioned to have Starsons treatment decision transferred to a surrogate. Though the petition was granted, Starson would later appeal, and the petition was reversed at the Supreme Court of Canada. The Supreme Court held that a patient, in this case, Starson, was not required to make a decision that is in their “best interest” as determined by the physician, and thence they are permitted to disagree with a treatment recommendation. The Court also reasoned that Starson was a competent patient capable of making his own medical decisions.

The above case represents a conflict of these two rather ethical considerations, on one side, the physician feels compelled to do what he believes is in the best interest of the patient. On the other hand, the patient feels that it is his right to refuse medication based on his own grounds. Under these circumstances, how far is the physician expected to go with his persistence?

Most legal cases, not only in Starson’s case, often uphold the position of the patient. This is referred to as patient autonomy. The principle of patient autonomy states that competent patients have the opportunity to choose among medically indicated treatment and to refuse any unwanted treatment. Under these circumstances, the physician must respect the patient’s decision.&nbsp. It is necessary to understand that treatment decisions are not only based on objective medical considerations but also involve a considerable level of personal value judgments and preferences (Meier, Diane, Isaacs, and Hughes 95).&nbsp. Therefore, to some extent, the physician may compel a patient to take a certain medication not only because it is the right and objective medical step but also because he feels, based on his values and preferences, it is the right thing.&nbsp. For the latter, he is imposing his personal feelings, not professional mandate, on the patient.&nbsp. In these cases, a physician may be ethically driven to compel a patient to take medication because he feels it is the right thing to do. However, it is essential to note that a physician demonstrates respect for human dignity, a biomedical ethical consideration when he acknowledges the freedom and right of the patient to make choices based on their own beliefs and values (Kluge 7).&nbsp.