Conclusion: The PSDA [Patient Self-Determination Act] is a welcome development for nursing facilities, as well as residents and families. For years, many residents, families, and facilities have not confronted the issue of ...

In the traditional 'fix-it' model of medical decision making, the identified problem is typically characterized by a diagnosis that indicates a deviation from normalcy. When a medical problem is multifaceted and the available ...

...In this paper we will limit our focus to how the decision in Cruzan is likely to affect the doctor-patient relationship, especially in the critical activities surrounding decision-making about the use of life sustaining ...

...I suggest that making formal, written plans based on individual preferences apart from our families is a white, middle-class approach to life planning that is at odds with how many people actually lead their lives, ...

The state of Oregon has developed a unique method to set priorities for health services. The method is based on a cost-utility formula but also incorporates public attitudes and values. Using an explicit process, the Oregon ...

Medical practitioners often feel obligated to use all available procedures to sustain patients' lives. A review of case law indicates, however, that practitioners who abate treatment that is contrary to people's known ...