Treatments.ö Whether or not a patient wishes to accept such treatment is another matter. Patients always have the right to refuse treatment.
Most patients today have advanced directives, which are documents which are the legal means by which patients can express their wishes regarding health care if they become unable to speak for themselves or become mentally incapacitated (Death). Living wills are used to direct family or physicians to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment if the testator is terminally ill and permanently unconscious. A durable power of attorney appoints a third party with full authority to make decisions for the patient if they become incapacitated. The law requires that the agent try to make decisions regarding health care which the patient themselves would make if they were able. When properly executed, these documents provide protection from prosecution and law suits to those who follow their provisions.
Healthcare professionals should always make sure they are aware of such documents when dealing with terminally ill patients, and be sure that the patients are aware that such documents exist and that they are free to use them, and they should be encouraged to do so because it often alleviates the need for others to make decisions about the patientÆs healthcare without knowing how the patient really feels about these decisions. Healthcare professionals should assist patients in filling out such documents if necessary, or review the documents they already have to make sure that they reflect the current wishes of the patient. They should also be reviewed with family members. If they patient is unable to communicate, these documents should be reviewed and the instructions followed and/or the instructions of the agent appointed should be followed to ensure the patientÆs wishes are carried out as specified. If there is a moral or professional conflict between the patientÆs wishes and ...