The recent decision by the High Court to allow a woman paralysed from the neck down to end her life by refusing treatment upholds a competent patient's right to decline treatment, even if this would lead to his or her own death [Re B v NHS Trust 2002]. The ruling, that a woman known as Miss B could have a ventilator keeping her alive switched off, reinforces a doctor's duty to respect a competent patient's wishes. However, doctors facing difficult decisions such as this often need to seek clarification from the High Court before acting.