Question

1.) If you had only a 1% chance of coming out of a long-term coma or PVS, would you want physicians to keep treating you or would you rather they let you die? why or why not?
What burdens or benefits would continuing treatment place on your family and loved ones?

2.)  If families are having difficulty coming to a consensus about the death of a relative in a coma, is it permissible for physicians to resolve the conflict by saying the person has died, and then withdraw life support without telling the family? What if the physician does this because he believes he will save the hospital money and help the family move on with their lives?

3.) What do you feel is the proper role of state and federal government in cases like Nancy Cruzan and Teri Schiavo? Should it protect vulnerable patients and assume the worst in families or should it assume the best in families and give them wide latitude to decide?

Answer 1

1.The person who has just 1% of chance to come out of coma can make a wise decision of physician assisted death (this is possible if the person have a living will already or a power of attorney to make decision in these type of situations) to end their life peacefully if they are about to suffer physically and emotionally. This is also experienced by the patient's family members who suffer emotionally both during the patient when is alive and passes away for a long term.

The burdens are physical pain for patients, emotional trauma to see thror loved one in a bed ridden status,financial loss ,physical discomfort for family members

When a patient or the attorney if decides for assisted death in regards to best interest of patient .It can prevent the other losses.

2.This act is a sort of medical malpractice by seizing the life support without proper consent by patient or by close family members.When a physician does this it can lead to sueing the physician and the hospital for not being in compliant with HIPAA.

3.Though it is a greater body like a government or a small family. Decision like assisted suicide can be done in a single day. It takes months for every aspect.First to declare vegetative state it takes about 6 weeks by provides,to request for a assisted death it takes months for the court to pass an order after thorough and adequate evidence with importance to patient interest are done.It is always best to give the family members to take decision in these type of situations with adequate counseling and time.