What are the two necessary conditions for life-sustaining interventions?
Next, the two necessary conditions for any medical treatment, i.e., that it is medically indicated and that consent is obtained, are applied to life-sustaining interventions. Finally, the difference between withholding and withdrawing a life-sustaining treatment is discussed.
When is it morally safer to forgo life-sustaining treatments?
In contrast to this common practice, the authors argue that in most instances, the morally safer route is actually to forgo life-sustaining treatments, particularly when their likelihood to effectuate a truly beneficial outcome has become small relative to the odds of harming the patient. The ethical analysis proceeds in three stages.
What is the best approach to end-of-life care?
When a patient’s life seems to be nearing its end, it is generally felt that the morally best approach is to try a new intervention, continue all treatments, attempt an experimental course of action, in short, do something.
When can a health care provider continue to provide treatment?
A health care provider needs to have both a medical indication and a consent to start treatment; and she likewise can only continue the provision of treatment when and as long as that treatment is still medically indicated and the patient is continuing to consent to its provision.
When is it justifiable to discontinue life sustaining treatment?
When is it justifiable to discontinue life-sustaining treatments? If the patient has the ability to make decisions, fully understands the consequences of their decision, and states they no longer want a treatment, it is justifiable to withdraw the treatment.
Do patients have the right to refuse life sustaining treatment?
Under federal law, the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) guarantees the right to refuse life sustaining treatment at the end of life.
When do you decide to withdraw from life support?
It is best when all the patient's loved ones can agree on whether to withhold or withdraw life support. When the medical situation clearly points in a certain direction, this is more likely. If a unanimous decision can't be made, it may be helpful to try mediation.
What are examples of life sustaining treatment?
Patients may consider many life-sustaining treatments; in addition to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), options include elective intubation, mechanical ventilation, surgery, dialysis, blood transfusions, artificial nutrition and hydration, diagnostic tests, antibiotics, other medications and treatments, as well as ...
Why would a patient refuse treatment?
Explore Reasons Behind Refusal Patients may refuse treatments for many reasons, including financial concerns, fear, misinformation, and personal values and beliefs. Exploring these reasons with the patient may reveal a solution or a different approach.
Should patients be allowed to refuse treatment?
Every competent adult has the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment. This is part of the right of every individual to choose what will be done to their own body, and it applies even when refusing treatment means that the person may die.
What criteria would you use to determine whether to terminate life sustaining treatment?
When is it justifiable to discontinue life-sustaining treatments? If the patient has the ability to make decisions, fully understands the consequences of their decision, and states they no longer want a treatment, it is justifiable to withdraw the treatment.
Would you ever recommend or give life sustaining therapy when you judge it futile?
In surveying physicians, Medscape researchers asked, "Would you ever recommend or give life-sustaining therapy when you judged that it was futile?" Nearly 5300 physicians answered the question: 23.6% said yes, they would recommend or continue to give care they knew to be futile, while 37.0% said they would not.
Who makes the decision to withdraw treatment?
Making the decision to withdraw treatment This decision will be based on what your best interests are believed to be. Your healthcare team will discuss this with your family members and your lasting power of attorney (if you have one), giving them time to consider all the implications.
What is life sustaining treatment?
A life-sustaining treatment, also referred to as a life-sustaining procedure or life-prolonging procedure, is a treatment utilized to prolong or sustain life without reversing the underlying medical condition.
What happens if a patient refuses life saving treatment?
When patients in need explicitly refuse life-sustaining emergency treatment, the physician must choose between the undesirable options of forgoing beneficial treatment and forcing treatment on a competent but unwilling patient [1], both of which have potential ethical and legal consequences.
What are the risks of life sustaining measures?
CPR can be life saving; however, there is a risk of broken or cracked ribs, punctured lungs and death. Mechanical ventilation supports a person's breathing when they can no longer breathe on their own. In this situation, a machine called a ventilator forces air into the lungs via tubing in the mouth or nose.