Unilateral withholding and withdrawal of potentially life-sustaining treatment: a violation of dignity under the law in Canada.
In this paper, I review Canadian law in relation to the unilateral withholding or withdrawal of potentially life-sustaining treatment, and I look at such questions as whether physicians are legally permitted to unilaterally put a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order on a patient's chart. I explore who has the legal authority in Canada to decide on withholding and withdrawal of potentially life-sustaining treatment, and I conclude that unilateral withholding and withdrawal is a violation of the strong social commitment to dignity as it is understood and reflected in the law by the Supreme Court of Canada. I then offer a concrete proposal for institutional policy with respect to unilateral withholding and withdrawal of treatment in light of the law.
Downie
Jocelyn
J
Health Law Institute, Faculty of Law, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
D016223:Advance Directives / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002170:Canada; D003657:Decision Making; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018447:Medical Futility / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010819:Physician's Role; D011057:Politics; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D016414:Resuscitation Orders / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012297:Right to Die / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*