Legal regulation of terminal care: options and obstacles.
The law regulates some aspects of medical practice and facilitates other aspects. Two laws in Texas that both facilitate and regulate medical care are the Texas Natural Death Act (TNDA) and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOAHC). The TNDA implements the treatment wishes of the patient who is terminally ill. The DPOAHC designates a proxy to make medical decisions for patients when they become incompetent. Because these laws can provide considerable help in caring for terminally ill or incompetent patients, physicians in Texas should understand these laws and use them in their practices.
Winslade
W J
WJ
Institute for the Medical Humanities, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
D035082:Federal Government; D006801:Humans; D007872:Legal Guardians; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016224:Living Wills / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012297:Right to Die / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013781:Texas