There are differing viewpoints surrounding the withholding and withdrawal of treatment. Which of the following situations constitutes the most acceptable application of the withholding and/or withdrawal of treatment?
A) A competent patient expresses a desire that hydration and nutrition be discontinued.
B) The potential benefits of a patient's antibiotic therapy exceed the likely risks.
C) A patient's family will be forced to pay out-of-pocket for the patient's life support due to a
lack of insurance coverage.
D) A patient's children wish to discontinue the patient's treatment because they have lost faith
in the care team.
Ans: A
Most healthcare organizations and institutions agree that a competent patient has the
right to withdraw or withhold treatment, especially when such treatment is unlikely to result in
positive outcomes. When benefits exceed risks, treatment is normally undertaken. Financial
concerns and interpersonal disputes should ideally not form the basis of such life-and-death
decisions.
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