When should medical professionals allow patients to die? When asked about end-of-life decisions for other people, two-thirds of Americans (66%) say there are at least some situations in which a patient should be allowed to die, while nearly a third (31%) say that medical professionals always should do everything possible to save a patient’s life (www.pewforum.org). Then there is the high cost of insurance and all of its limitations, and justifications for treatment that possibly become part of the equation when medical professionals are making decisions about life and death for patients. Ethical principles are fine in theory, but putting them into practice is more difficult. Every situation is different, and ethical issues in medicine are generally approached on a case-by-case
When should medical professionals allow patients to die? When asked about end-of-life decisions for other people, two-thirds of Americans (66%) say there are at least some situations in which a patient should be allowed to die, while nearly a third (31%) say that medical professionals always should do everything possible to save a patient’s life (www.pewforum.org). Then there is the high cost of insurance and all of its limitations, and justifications for treatment that possibly become part of the equation when medical professionals are making decisions about life and death for patients. Ethical principles are fine in theory, but putting them into practice is more difficult. Every situation is different, and ethical issues in medicine are generally approached on a case-by-case