PHI-2635 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Terri Schiavo Case, Advance Healthcare Directive
Document Summary
A written expression of a patient"s wishes. Legal document usually written by or in conjunction with attorneys; not in conjunction with medical doctors. Re(cid:272)o(cid:396)ds the patie(cid:374)t"s (cid:449)ishes fo(cid:396) (cid:373)edi(cid:272)al t(cid:396)eat(cid:373)e(cid:374)t at the ti(cid:373)e the do(cid:272)u(cid:373)e(cid:374)t is written. Designed to apply when a patient becomes terminally ill or incapable of making decisions by themselves. It is important for unusual desires to be recorded. Karen ann quinlan was 20 years old and had a lot of alcohol and possible narcotics. Once she had gone home from the party, she lost consciousness and stopped breathing. By the time they got her to the hospital, she was without oxygen to her brain for at least 30 minutes. This case sets up the right to remove a patient from life-sustaining treatment. Her parents wanted to remove her from the respirator, but the doctor refused. Advance directive: extending autonomy beyond the point where you can actually exercise autonomy.
