Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/89121
Citations | ||
Scopus | Web of ScienceĀ® | Altmetric |
---|---|---|
?
|
?
|
Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in a patient's best interests: Australian judicial deliberations |
Author: | Willmott, L. White, B. Smith, M. Wilkinson, D. |
Citation: | Medical Journal of Australia, 2014; 201(9):545-547 |
Publisher: | MJA Group Australia |
Issue Date: | 2014 |
ISSN: | 1326-5377 0025-729X |
Statement of Responsibility: | Lindy Willmott, Ben White, Malcolm K Smith, Dominic J C Wilkinson |
Abstract: | Intractable disputes about withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment from adults who lack capacity are rare but challenging. Judicial resolution may be needed in some of these cases. A central concept for judicial (and clinical) decision making in this area is a patient's "best interests". Yet what this term means is contested. There is an emerging Supreme Court jurisprudence that sheds light on when life-sustaining treatment will, or will not, be judged to be in a patient's best interests. Treatment that is either futile or overly burdensome is not in a patient's best interests. Although courts will consider patient and family wishes, they have generally deferred to the views of medical practitioners about treatment decisions. |
Keywords: | Humans Medical Futility Life Support Care Terminal Care Withholding Treatment Mental Competency Decision Making Quality of Life Advance Directives Proxy Australia |
Rights: | Copyright status unknown |
DOI: | 10.5694/mja13.10874 |
Published version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja13.10874 |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest 7 Paediatrics publications |
Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.