title: Forgoing life-supporting or death-prolonging therapy: a policy statement.
abstract: Avoiding death is not always the preeminent goal of health care, and decisions about the use of life-supporting treatment may either hasten or forestall death. What are the health care professional's responsibilities regarding the use of life-supporting therapy? This report offers general and specific guidelines for termination of life-supporting treatment.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Orlowski
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Cancian
mesh_terms: D004992:Ethics, Medical; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care; D009820:Ohio; D016134:Organizational Policy; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D016414:Resuscitation Orders; D012297:Right to Die; D028761:Withholding Treatment