Memento ... life imitates art: the request for an ethics consultation.
This was a troublesome case, without complete consensus about the right thing to do. It seemed there were arguments on both sides: those who thought that the goal of comfort care without treatment was most consistent with his wishes, versus those who thought the additional testing and treatment might have produced a net benefit in spite of the burdens. Ultimately, the patient was placed in a facility with a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order in effect and a plan for comfort care. He may live a few months or more. We all hope that whatever time he has is spent free of pain and symptoms, and that he is able to live a life of quality consistent with his wishes. The main story line is consistent with actual events; however, there have been changes in terms of gender, disease, and relationships that have been included to protect the anonymity of the patient.
Alden March Bioethics Institute, Albany, New York, USA. ottos@mail.amc.edu
Sheila
S
Otto
D032721:Adult Children; D020324:Amnesia, Anterograde / Q000209:etiology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D033061:Ethics Consultation; D005190:Family; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D019727:Proxy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D035502:Trust; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents