End of life care, especially the withdrawal of treatment is the most ethically complex and emotionally and intellectually challenging. In this case, the doctor is torn between prolonging a patient’s life and the need to address withdrawal of treatment issues. The paragraphs that follow take into account, the ethical frameworks in the 21st century and opinion by asking ethical questions that address the complexity of the matter. To analyze this ethical issue, four principles of medical ethics, specifically, autonomy, non-maleficence, distributive justice, and beneficence will come to play.
According to (Picard & Lee, 2013), autonomy is the rule that stipulates that patient has the right to control what happens to their body, a decision that …show more content…
To elaborate on this we will look at some of the argument on both sides of the divide. For instance, recently, some of the cons issues on the withdrawal of treatment were used against LPC (Liverpool Care Pathway), a system that was implemented to allow for termination of the life of very ill patients with self-respect and with little distress as possible. Since the time of its inspection, the LPC had extended its services to allow the withdrawal of treatment to patients that were terminally ill. To many, LPC was acceptable medical practice for end-of-life care. Yet, several issues about its operation surfaced, for instance, two-thirds of the patient had their care plan discussed with relatives or carers, despite the fact that LPC received millions of pounds inform of government funding (Sturdy, …show more content…
In the Oath, the duties and responsibilities of the physicians, such as “… do no harm…” and “…keep secret..” are found. Some perceive this Oath as irrelevant to the modern world, as it fails to address this critical issue of withdrawal of treatment. Nevertheless, the WMA Geneva Declaration which is the most recent still fails to address this issue too. For instance, one of the quotes from the declaration is very ambiguous and leaves from for open interpretation “.. Maintain ultimate respect for human life”.
Moreover, the UK’s Good Medical Practice guide, to which every practicing doctor must abide in are also vague on the ethical issue of end-of-life care. For instance, the guide state that ”the doctors should take necessary steps to ensure that there is as less pain and distress whether or not a cure is possible” (General Medical Council, 2013); as much as one school of thought may feel this is the closest to the withdrawal of treatment, it is still open to
According to (Picard & Lee, 2013), autonomy is the rule that stipulates that patient has the right to control what happens to their body, a decision that …show more content…
To elaborate on this we will look at some of the argument on both sides of the divide. For instance, recently, some of the cons issues on the withdrawal of treatment were used against LPC (Liverpool Care Pathway), a system that was implemented to allow for termination of the life of very ill patients with self-respect and with little distress as possible. Since the time of its inspection, the LPC had extended its services to allow the withdrawal of treatment to patients that were terminally ill. To many, LPC was acceptable medical practice for end-of-life care. Yet, several issues about its operation surfaced, for instance, two-thirds of the patient had their care plan discussed with relatives or carers, despite the fact that LPC received millions of pounds inform of government funding (Sturdy, …show more content…
In the Oath, the duties and responsibilities of the physicians, such as “… do no harm…” and “…keep secret..” are found. Some perceive this Oath as irrelevant to the modern world, as it fails to address this critical issue of withdrawal of treatment. Nevertheless, the WMA Geneva Declaration which is the most recent still fails to address this issue too. For instance, one of the quotes from the declaration is very ambiguous and leaves from for open interpretation “.. Maintain ultimate respect for human life”.
Moreover, the UK’s Good Medical Practice guide, to which every practicing doctor must abide in are also vague on the ethical issue of end-of-life care. For instance, the guide state that ”the doctors should take necessary steps to ensure that there is as less pain and distress whether or not a cure is possible” (General Medical Council, 2013); as much as one school of thought may feel this is the closest to the withdrawal of treatment, it is still open to