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.
Otto
Sheila
S
Alden March Bioethics Institute, Albany, New York, USA. ottos@mail.amc.edu
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