
The Constitution protects a person's freedom of choice in medical care, including the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment and the right to preserve the doctor-patient relationship. The Supreme Court has long recognised a person's constitutionally protected liberty interest in their own medical autonomy, especially when those interests are secured by state laws. This includes the right to try promising treatments that may save a person's life. The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution is known for its Equal Protection clause, which states that nor shall any state … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Article 36 (3) of the South Korean Constitution emphasises the obligation to protect the national health of the nation, stipulating that all citizens are protected by the state in relation to health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medical freedom protected by | 51 constitutions |
| Core of freedom | Autonomy |
| Right to Try | The right to try to save one's own life |
| Right to Try laws | Regulate conditions under which a patient is eligible for investigational drugs |
| Right to Try laws | Regulate conditions under which a doctor may prescribe investigational treatments |
| Right to Try laws | Protect individual rights |
| Right to Try laws | Protect state autonomy over health care programs |
| Right to Try laws | Protect the right to die for terminal patients |
| Right to Try laws | Protect the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment |
| Right to Try laws | Protect the doctor-patient relationship |
| Fourteenth Amendment | Equal Protection clause |
| Fourteenth Amendment | Used to focus on implementing health equity |
| Article 36 (3) of the Constitution | Emphasises the obligation to protect the national health of the nation |
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What You'll Learn

Medical self-preservation
The Constitution protects a person's freedom of choice in medical care, including the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment and the right to preserve the doctor-patient relationship. The Supreme Court has long recognised a person's constitutionally protected liberty interest in their own medical autonomy, especially when those interests are secured by state laws.
The core of freedom is autonomy, and there is no stronger freedom than the autonomy to try to save one's own life. Right to Try laws take the most intimate, personal decisions out of the hands of bureaucrats and put them back where they belong: with doctors and their patients.
State Right-to-Try laws regulate the conditions under which a patient is eligible for investigational drugs and a doctor may prescribe investigational treatments, if the manufacturer is willing to provide them. The Supreme Court has demonstrated a commitment to deferring to state solutions that protect individual rights, such as the right to enact so-called "right-to-die" laws for terminal patients, control the way criminal activity is punished within their borders, ensure marriage equality, and preserve state autonomy over healthcare programs.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution is known for its Equal Protection Clause, which states that "nor shall any state ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws". With regard to implementing health equity, the Fourteenth Amendment seems a natural place in US law on which to focus.
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Medical autonomy
The Constitution protects a person’s freedom of choice in medical care, including the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment and rights preserving the doctor-patient relationship. The Supreme Court has long recognised a person’s constitutionally protected liberty interest in their own medical autonomy, especially when those interests are secured by state laws.
The core of freedom is autonomy, and there is no stronger freedom than the autonomy to try to save one’s own life. Right to Try laws take the most intimate, personal decisions out of the hands of bureaucrats and put them back where they belong: with doctors and their patients.
The scope of a state’s inherent authority over the practice of medicine includes the authority to decide which medical procedures are acceptable to perform and to specify the conditions under which a medical procedure may be lawfully performed. State Right-to-Try laws regulate the conditions under which a patient is eligible for investigational drugs and a doctor may prescribe investigational treatments, if the manufacturer is willing to provide them.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution is known for its Equal Protection clause, which states that “nor shall any state … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws”. With regard to implementing health equity, the Fourteenth Amendment seems a natural place in US law on which to focus.
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Right to refuse treatment
The Constitution protects a person’s freedom of choice in medical care, including the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment. This is known as medical autonomy, and it is protected by the Supreme Court. This means that, in conjunction with their doctor, a person can try promising treatments that may save their life. This is also known as Right-to-Try laws, which are in place in 51 states.
The Supreme Court has demonstrated a commitment to deferring to state solutions that protect individual rights. This includes the right to enact so-called 'right-to-die' laws for terminal patients, as well as the right to control the way criminal activity is punished within their borders, ensure marriage equality, and preserve state autonomy over healthcare programs.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution is also relevant here, as it is known for its Equal Protection clause, which states that “nor shall any state … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
In South Korea, Article 36 (3) of the Constitution emphasises the obligation to protect the national health of the nation by stipulating that “all citizens are protected by the state in relation to health”. This means that the right to health as a social fundamental right is the most important aspect of health rights.
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Right to try
The Constitution protects a person's freedom of choice in medical care, including the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment and rights preserving the doctor-patient relationship. The Supreme Court has long recognised a person's constitutionally protected liberty interest in their own medical autonomy, especially when those interests are secured by state laws.
State Right-to-Try laws regulate the conditions under which a patient is eligible for investigational drugs and a doctor may prescribe investigational treatments, if the manufacturer is willing to provide them. The core of freedom is autonomy, and there is no stronger freedom than the autonomy to try to save one's own life. Right to Try takes the most intimate, personal decisions out of the hands of bureaucrats and puts them back to where they belong: with doctors and their patients.
The FDA regulates the introduction of drugs and medical devices into the market, but those regulations cannot preempt state laws that preserve constitutionally protected rights, such as a person's right to life and medical self-preservation.
In South Korea, Article 36 (3) of the Constitution emphasises the obligation to protect the national health of the nation by stipulating that "all citizens are protected by the state in relation to health". This means that the right to health as a social fundamental right is the most important aspect of health rights. The social right is an individual's right to demand from the state a de facto benefit, such as a good or opportunity that can be obtained from a person if the person has sufficient financial resources and the supply in the market is sufficient.
In the US, the Fourteenth Amendment is known for its Equal Protection Clause, which states that "nor shall any state... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws". With regard to implementing health equity, the Fourteenth Amendment seems a natural place in US law on which to focus.
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Right to die
The Constitution protects a person's freedom of choice in medical care, including the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment. The Supreme Court has long recognised a person's constitutionally protected liberty interest in their own medical autonomy, especially when those interests are secured by state laws. This includes the right to try promising treatments that may save their life.
The right to die is a constitutionally protected right, as the Supreme Court has demonstrated a commitment to deferring to state solutions that protect individual rights, such as states' powers to enact the so-called "right-to-die" laws for terminal patients. This right is based on the core principle of freedom and autonomy, which is protected by the Constitution.
The scope of a state's inherent authority over the practice of medicine includes the authority to decide which medical procedures are acceptable to perform and to specify the conditions under which a medical procedure may be lawfully performed. State Right-to-Try laws regulate the conditions under which a patient is eligible for investigational drugs and a doctor may prescribe investigational treatments, if the manufacturer is willing to provide them.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution is also relevant to the right to die, as it includes the Equal Protection Clause, which states that "nor shall any state... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws". This Amendment can be used to focus on implementing health equity in the US.
In addition, Article 36 (3) of the Constitution emphasises the obligation to protect the national health of the nation by stipulating that "all citizens are protected by the state in relation to health". This means that the right to health as a social fundamental right is the most important aspect of health rights.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Constitution protects a person's freedom of choice in medical care, including the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment and rights preserving the doctor-patient relationship.
While the FDA regulates the introduction of drugs and medical devices into the market, those regulations cannot preempt state laws that preserve constitutionally protected rights, such as a person's right to life and medical self-preservation.
Right-to-Try laws regulate the conditions under which a patient is eligible for investigational drugs and a doctor may prescribe investigational treatments, if the manufacturer is willing to provide them.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution is known for its Equal Protection clause, which states that “nor shall any state … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” With regard to implementing health equity, the Fourteenth Amendment seems a natural place in US law on which to focus.

























