CHAPTER7END-OF-LFE ISSUE
CHAPTER 7 END-OF-LIFE ISSUE
2Would you ever consider haltinglife-sustaining therapybecauseoffamilydemands,evenifyoufelt that it was premature?Yes-16.3%No-54.5%Itdepends-29.2%
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"l do not participate in active withdrawal of suchintrinsic life-sustaining needs. The family couldfind another physician if they feel so strongly'"lt depends on what you mean by 'premature' Iwould feel differently if death is imminent andthere's no hope, and the quality of life is poorrather than if there's no hope but some quality, or ifthere is some hope but the quality of life is lousy.I'd always try to think, what would the patientwant.""Not if the family insisted, but if the patient insistedon it, I would.""This is why hospitals have ethics boards. I wouldrefer cases like these toexperts
• "I do not participate in active withdrawal of such intrinsic life-sustaining needs. The family could find another physician if they feel so strongly." • "It depends on what you mean by 'premature.' I would feel differently if death is imminent and there's no hope, and the quality of life is poor rather than if there's no hope but some quality, or if there is some hope but the quality of life is lousy. I'd always try to think, what would the patient want." • "Not if the family insisted, but if the patient insisted on it, I would." • "This is why hospitals have ethics boards. I would refer cases like these to experts
Wouldyoueverrecommend orgivelife-sustainingtherapywhenyoujudged thatitwas futile?Yes-23.6%No-37.0%Itdepends-39.4%
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"l once had a terminal patient who wanted to see hisgranddaughter before he died, so I prolonged hisintravenous therapy for 3 days until'she arrived. He diedthe same night.""Some families have completely unrealistic expectations,despite my educational efforts. I would give continuedcare, but not happily."l do not have the right to determine futile unless thepatient is brain dead. Futility is a matter of opinion. Weall will die eventually."I would not recommend it if I thought it was futile, but Iwould give it if that is what the patient or the familywanted.""Why waste money and time when results are nil?""l would do this if I felt it would give the family time toaccept the inevitability of death
• "I once had a terminal patient who wanted to see his granddaughter before he died, so I prolonged his intravenous therapy for 3 days until she arrived. He died the same night." • "Some families have completely unrealistic expectations, despite my educational efforts. I would give continued care, but not happily." • "I do not have the right to determine futile unless the patient is brain dead. Futility is a matter of opinion. We all will die eventually." • "I would not recommend it if I thought it was futile, but I would give it if that is what the patient or the family wanted." • "Why waste money and time when results are nil?" • "I would do this if I felt it would give the family time to accept the inevitability of death