Problem: Describe the case:
Case: Superintendent of Belchertown State School v. Saikewicz36 Joseph Saikewicz was profoundly retarded, but he was conscious. Although he was 67 years old, he had a mental age of two years and eight months and had never learned to speak. He had leukemia, and the issue was whether he should be given chemotherapy. Most competent patients with leukemia choose to undergo chemotherapy, which can be successful. However, Mr. Saikewicz would not have cooperated with the chemotherapy and would not have understood the reason for the treatment. In this case, the Massachusetts court ruled that chemotherapy should be withheld.
Please state your opinion and what law supported the decision. Do you believe this to be a correct decision, why or why not?