Legal and ethical issues in end of life care
End of life (EOL) care presents a number of legal and ethical challenges in all societies irrespective of their economic, cultural, or religious backgrounds. The issues range from attempts to prolong the lives of dying patients through highly advanced medical technologies, to efforts to terminate...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/64321/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/64321/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/64321/1/64621_Political%20Economy%20of%20Deregulation.pdf |
| Summary: | End of life (EOL) care presents a number of legal and ethical challenges in all societies
irrespective of their economic, cultural, or religious backgrounds. The issues range from
attempts to prolong the lives of dying patients through highly advanced medical
technologies, to efforts to terminate life prematurely through euthanasia and medically
assisted suicide. Many physicians are unfamiliar with EOL care and tend to be more
cautious than necessary. Frequently, many dying patients are subjected to CPR, intubated
and put on ventilators. Then they feel helpless when there are no ventilators and ICU beds
for patients who will benefit most from such care. Simply giving therapy which is of limited
benefit and which may impinge on the rights and needs of others is not fair. The legal
position is clear that competent adults have the right to refuse or discontinue medical
interventions and that physician need not strive to preserve life at all costs. Similarly
patients cannot demand a treatment that is not in their best interests. The physicians play
an essential role in clarifying the goals of medical treatment at EOL, educating patients
and families, helping them deliberate about a proposed treatment plan which is reasonably
achievable and realistic. Therefore there is a need to disseminate relevant information to
specific target groups and public in general about some key issues affecting care at the
EOL. The objective of this article is to evaluate EOL preferences in clinical practice in
Malaysia to help prioritize and enhance knowledge regarding advance care planning; DNR
status, withdrawing and withholding treatment, etc. This will encourage optimal utilisation
of hospital facilities and services thus reducing hospital operating costs due to prolonged
unnecessary hospitalisation. |
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