Topic: Douglas Diekema

AAP approves withdrawal of artificial nutrition from children in certain cases

American Medical Association News - 901 days ago
For nearly two decades, the medical and legal consensus has been that it is permissable to withdraw life-sustaining artificial hydration and nutrition from adult patients in a persistent vegetative state. There are as many as 35,000 pediatric patients living in a ...

Time to get tough? States increasingly offer ways to opt out of vaccine mandates

American Medical Association News - 1254 days ago
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that measles outbreaks have reached a peak not seen since 1996. The religious-only opt-out states had rates of pertussis two times lower than did states that also granted personal-belief exemptions. Francesco "Chek" Beuf, MD ...

Virginia: 14 is old enough to decide on medical treatment

American Medical Association News - 1520 days ago
Virginia amended its child abuse law in late March to allow parents and children 14 or older to refuse medical treatment for a life-threatening condition. The new law says parents cannot be charged with medical neglect if the decision to refuse a ...