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Superintendent of Belchertown State School v. Saikewicz

373 Mass. 728, 370 N.E.2d 417 (1977)

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Superintendent of Belchertown State School v. Saikewicz

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
373 Mass. 728, 370 N.E.2d 417 (1977)

Facts

Joseph Saikewicz was noncommunicative and profoundly retarded for the majority of his life, which was spent in an institutional environment. After Joseph contracted a type of cancer that is fatal and is generally treated with chemotherapy for which informed consent is necessary, a court ruled for the withholding of treatment.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Liacos, J.)

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