Among Doctors, Fierce Reluctance to Let Go
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/among-doctors-fierce-reluctance-to-let-go/?ref=health
This article is about a women in her 70s who had in writing that she would not like to be on life support, no artificial nutrition, and no nursing home before she was unresponsive after a stroke.
When she was brought to the hospital, the ambulance crew put her on a ventilator, considered standard procedure. When she woke up and was able to breathe again, doctors removed it, but the prominent surgeon ordered that she receives IV fluids. Dr. Matlock, a geriatrician, saw that the surgeon was deliberating ignoring the old woman's wishes of no artificial nutrition.
By inserting IV fluids, it makes it harder for dying patients to breathe. "Dehydration is a gentler death, with less agitation" but because she didn't explicitly say "no IVs"in writing as well.
Do you think it's ethical that patients can have in writing that they don't want to be on life support and the doctors have to respect that? Or as a doctor, doctors must respect life and try to save it no matter what, even if it goes against the wishes of that person?
This one is a tough one. Ultimately, though, I believe it should be up to the patient. I know Catholics and what not say "from the womb to the tomb" and that the doctor should always try to preserve life, is living on life support really living? Everyone should have the right to decide what to do with their own body. Therefore, the doctors should respect the patients' wishes.
ReplyDeleteI think that the doctors need to respect the patients wishes. I know that It's the doctors job to save lives but if the patient really doesn't want to be on life support then I think they should respect her choice.
ReplyDeleteIf a patient had a pre-written request, i think that doctors should respect that wish. However; if the patient did not have the pre-written request, it would okay for the doctor to do whatever to save the patient's life.
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