Question

The 'Helga Wangle' case in bioethics, what this case about in terms of Paternalism and Patient Autonomy?

Answer 1

Helga Wangle ,a patient in vegetative state was in controversy by 1991, whether to sustain life with the help of respirator when there was no possibility for reversal of her disease condition.

The medical health facility showed its paternalism by describing that Helga cannot be survived without a respirator and she is in a permanent unconscious state. Providing care to her will be helpless besides a high meducal expenditure. Also in the best interest of the patient , weaning the patient from the artificial life support can prevent any unnecessary aggressive procedure on the patient during critical stage.

The patient autonomy was a great issue here that ,whether a patient is conscious or unconscious the autonomy of the patient should be respected and abided by others.No external committee, family members ,medical professionals can take a decision in place of a  patient without their consent.Here the family members took the responsibility to take a decision without the consent of the patient whether to have a life support or not. Though the decision by the patient at this time is not possible because everyone has their own perspective of how to live and how to die.