title: Acts of commission, omission, and demission or pulling the plug.
abstract: The difference between withholding and withdrawing treatment and actively killing is analysed. The intention of the physician and the effect on the patient are similar but the wider effect on others is different. The harmful effects of withdrawing life-preserving treatment which is no longer beneficial can be reduced by clarification of its purpose. This is to prolong life with value to the patient not just existence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005065:Euthanasia; D028601:Euthanasia, Active; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D018447:Medical Futility; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D016079:Refusal to Treat; D006113:United Kingdom; D028761:Withholding Treatment