The Physician's Responsibility toward Hopelessly Ill Patients

Abstract

These guidelines for doctors treating hopelessly ill adult patients\nwere formulated by ten physicians who met on 28-30 October 1983 at Harvard's\nCountway Library of Medicine, under the auspices of the Society for the Right\nto Die. Basic to their considerations were the patient's paramount role in\ndecision making, and the advisability of decreasing aggressive treatment when\nsuch treatment only prolongs dying. After discussing the patient's and\nphysician's decision making roles, and doctor patient communication, the\nauthors offer guidelines on levels of care and individualizing treatment of\ncompetent and incompetent patients, including those who are brain dead, in a\npersistent vegetative state, demented, or senile. (KIE abstract)