title: Indicators of humanhood and the care of aging, chronically ill patients.
abstract: This article examines the relevance of Dr. Joseph Fletcher's indicators of humanhood to the care of aging, chronically ill patients. Because "human" has normative force as well as descriptive meaning, it functions to redirect attitudes and influence the behavior of health care professionals. This demands that attention be given to the qualitative as well as the quantitative thrust of Fletcher's "indicators." Although their indiscriminate use may lead to prematurely withholding or withdrawing treatments that patients need and deserve, if indicators are employed judiciously, they may be of limited assistance in deciding what form of treatment is appropriate, whether aggressive or palliative.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005853:Geriatrics; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life