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The author offers her opinion on a case involving pregnant woman Samantha Burton and her right to refuse medical treatment despite Florida's First District Court of Appeal's order for her to undergo all treatments that her physician deemed necessary.

The article discusses the legal implications of patients' right to refuse treatment for the nursing profession.

The article presents suggestions for nurses to deal with advance directives in the U.S. It is stated that if there is no advance directive or designated healthcare surrogate, the healthcare team should consult a proxy about healthcare decisions of the incapacitated patient. It is said that nurses have the duty to be advocates for their patients, but that does not mean that each and every nurse should be prepared to race to the courthouse in case of any dispute.