Ethical and Legal Dilemmas in Palliative Care

This assignment delves into the complex ethical and legal considerations surrounding palliative care for terminally ill patients. It examines the dilemmas faced by medical professionals in providing appropriate treatment while respecting patient autonomy and navigating legal frameworks. Key topics include informed consent, withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging treatments, pain management using opioids, and the balance between preserving life and ensuring quality of care during end-of-life stages.

Legal and Ethical considerations for Palliative care
Medical care during terminally ill patients has been drawing the attention of medical researchers.
Medical professionals have often found themselves in ethical dilemma about the nature of
treatment given to patients during their last days. This discussion would give an insight into the
medical and legal aspects attached to the provision of palliative care to terminally ill patients.
Terminally ill patients go through severe pain and discomfort during their last days. In such
crucial situation, doctors have to make a rational and safe decision for the betterment of their life.
It’s a doctor’s ethical dilemma to decide as to withdraw or withhold the treatment for such
patients (Seale, 2009). Whilst there are ethical considerations, medical bodies have many laws
and other relevant medical evidence concerning such sensitive issue (Thorns, 2010).
A patient has the right to refuse any harsh treatment if he or she has been suffering for sustained
period of time. Herein, doctors have to play an active role to find medical care in the best interest
of the patients. Patients should be informed about the course of medical treatment during this
crucial stage. Effective communication helps in dithering away conflicting issues between
physicians and terminally ill patients and make informed decisions. If the treatment is not
possible, However, if a state is reached where patient’s condition is worsening, then preservation
of life should be give its due attendance (British Medical Association, 2007). Doctors can
potentially focus on pain management for such patients to alleviate extreme pain. Patients under
extreme pain are advised to be treated with opioids (Hanks et al., 2001). Given the legal hassles,
it becomes difficult for doctors to figure out medical solutions to reduce pain and improve
quality of life. There is dire need to address these legal entangles to support patient-centered care
during the last days of life.

References
British Medical Association. (2007). Withholding and withdrawing life-prolonging medical
treatment (3rd ed). London: BMA. Retrieved from
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470757994.fmatter/pdf.
Hanks, G.W., Conno, F., Cherny, N., Hanna, M., Kalso, E., McQuay, H.J., Mercadante, S.,
Meynadier, J. et al., (2001). Morphine and alternative opioids in cancer pain: the EAPC
recommendations. Br J Cancer, 84, 587–593. doi: 10.1054/bjoc.2001.1680
Seale, C. (2009). End-of-life decisions in the UK involving medical practitioners. Palliat Med,
23, 198–204. doi: 10.1177/0269216308102042
Thorns, A. (2010). Ethical and legal issues in end-of-life care. Clin Med. 10(3). 282-285.
Retrieved from http://www.clinmed.rcpjournal.org/content/10/3/282.