Conflicts Between Patients' Wishes to Forgo Treatment and the Policies of Health Care Facilities

Abstract

The authors explore the question of how the right of patients to refuse life-sustaining treatment can be reconciled with a hospital's or nursing home's differing philosophy of care. They review three recent court cases that address the issue, consider whether the administration of a health care facility may decline to comply with a patient's or family member's request to discontinue life support, and examine the options in such situations. They conclude that our pluralistic society should promote diversity among health care facilities and that patients should be able to seek care from facilities and professionals that disclose their treatment philosophy to prospective patients. (KIE abstract)