Question

read this and answe the queastion below.

Mrs. Doe is a 33 year old paramedic who has discussed end-of-life decisions including the importance of Do Not Resuscitate orders with her husband. Mirs. Doe (having lost her brother years earlier) expressed to her husband that she never wanted to be kept alive by machines. She also expressed a desire to sign a DNR order but had not done so yet. Eighteen weeks (4 /h months) into her second pregnancy, Mrs. Doe collapsed on the living room floor. Mr. Doe performed CPR and called 911. She was put on life support after suffering a suspected pulmonary embolism but never regained consciousness and was considered brain dead. Knowing his wife's wishes, Mr. Doe makes the decision that she would NOT want to be kept alive since her quality of lite would never be what it was and wants her removed from life support and be allowed to die with dignity However, the fetus is still viable with a normal heart beat. If delivered now, the fetus would not be viable, however, if the mother was kept "alive" and the fetus had time to develop to 24-28 weeks; the fetus could survive and be delivered by cesarean. To complicate matters, Mrs. Doe lives in Texas where state law nulls a DNR order if a woman is pregnant because there is a legal duty to keep her alive while the fetus is viable. Do you as the attending physician honor the patient's wishes and remove life support knowing that the patient AND the unborn child will die or do you follow state law and keep the mother on life support for the sake of the developing fetus?

Answer 1

I would not remove the patient from life support.

Mrs Doe is unable to make a conscious choice. The DNR was based on the point of view of her husband/ family. which is not acceptable to me. This may weaken the societies respect for the sanctity of life.

Euthanasia will encourage patients to end their life with the painless treatment that help relieve their suffering life. However, this may not be the best option for the patients in modern technology. This would prevent the chance of rehabilitation if patient or family member decided to end the life with euthanasia

I believe, Mrs Doe who cannot express the will being the foetus viable in her womb would lose her right of Euthanasia of DNR.