Refusing Extinction

Refusing to be suppressed

On page 737, Fahlén et al. show that colitis-inducing effector T cells that cannot respond to the suppressive cytokine TGFrefuse to be controlled by regulatory T (T reg) cells. Naturally occurring T reg cells suppress the activity of effector CD4 T cells and are essential for the prevention of autoimmune disease and chronic inflammation. TGFappears to be required for T reg cell activity, but de...

Refusing treatment--who shall decide?

The issue of consent in medical care, and its corollary refusal of consent, has become more and more complex. Three major consent issues are: (I) the capacity of giving consent or obtaining consent when the individual involved is impaired or not competent to give consent; (2) the capacity to consent to or authorize non-treatment or withdrawal of treatment; and (3) the refusal to give consent wh...

The ethics of refusing medical treatment.

Refusing Jurisdiction: Abstention and Other Doctrines

This case involves two proceedings, one pending in state court, the other in federal court. Each seeks review of an Iowa Utilities Board (IUB or Board) order. And each presents the question whether Windstream Iowa Communications, Inc. (Windstream), a local telecommunications carrier, may impose on Sprint Communications, Inc. (Sprint), intrastate access charges for telephone calls transported vi...

Refusing life-sustaining treatment: can we just say no?