| |
Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
 | |
|
| A case of futility or patient autonomy | | Author(s) | Cynthia G Olsen |
| Journal title | Journal of Ethics, Law and Aging, vol 2, no 1, Spring/Summer 1996 |
| Pages | pp 33-40 |
| Keywords | Cancer ; Euthanasia ; Older men ; Patients ; Rights [elderly] ; Social ethics ; Therapeutics ; Case studies ; United States of America. |
| Annotation | The case of an elderly, dying man with metastatic cancer who desires aggressive treatment is presented. Conflict between family and the physician, who disagrees with their requests, is described. The concepts of justice, patient autonomy, medical necessity and rationing are discussed and related to the concept of futility. The fear of an abusive medical system, and the reversal of gains in patient autonomy are examples of why futility is a controversial area. The author points out the physician's conflicting roles of patient advocate and 'gatekeeper' in our changing health care environment. She describes an approach to addressing futility by examining the patient's goals and the types of treatment being considered. |
| Accession Number | CPA-980120208 A |
| Classmark | CK: CY: BC: LF: IKR: TQ: LL: 69P: 7T |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
|
| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
| |
|