Moral and ethical issues involved in making a decision regarding limiting life support.

Sample Answer

Moral and ethical issues surrounding decisions to limit life support are among the most complex and emotionally charged dilemmas in modern medicine. These decisions require balancing medical capabilities with profound human values about life, death, and suffering. This paper will examine the core ethical principles at play, the various perspectives of stakeholders, and the legal and moral frameworks that guide these difficult choices.

Ethical Principles at the Bedside

The decision to limit life support often involves a direct conflict between foundational ethical principles in healthcare.

Autonomy: This principle asserts that patients have the right to make their own decisions about their medical care. A competent patient’s right to refuse treatment, including life-sustaining measures, is paramount. This is a cornerstone of patient-centered care and is often protected by legal documents like advance directives, living wills, and durable power of attorney for healthcare. When a patient lacks the capacity to make decisions, a surrogate, often a family member, is tasked with making choices based on the patient's known wishes or best interests.