Clinical Ethics--When Enough is Enough

[Gregory Matthews]

See:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/june-web-only/when-prolonging-life-means-prolonging-suffering.html?utm_source=ctweekly-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=16245031&utm_content=463151068&utm_campaign=email&start=1

 

NOTE:  In working with people I have approached them from the standpoint that life is more that quantity.  Life is quality.

[Gregory Matthews]

As a second option, in dealing with myself I have approached this issue from the "cost-benefit" position and I do not mean financial cost.  Clinical care is provided to the patient at a cost to that patient.  We can pump the patients blood,  but only for a time.  We can respire the patient (oxygenate the blood) but sometimes only under conditions where we place the patient into a coma.  We can replace a knee joint, but only under a rough recovery period.  We can perform aggressive procedures that increase the life of the patient for only a few days.  All of these have a cost that the patient must pay.  The cost-benefit question is:  Is the benefit that will come to the patient worth the cost that the patient will pay.  That answer must be an individual one and it may not be an easy one.

I will give you an example:

I was with a surgeon as he explained to an elderly patient that the patient would die unless he received a CABG.  The surgeon then went on to explain how due to the advanced age of the patient there would be a very rough recovery period.  He told the patient that if the patient chose not to have the surgery we would keep him comfortable as he died.  The patient decided not to undergo the surgery and went home to die.

While at home, he had second thoughts and he  returned to our hospital and requested the surgery, which was provided.

As was normal for that type of surgery, he was admitted to our ICU.  As an exception to normality, upon release from the ICU he was admitted to our nursing home unit (NHCU).  He spent the next three (3) months in our NHCU before he was considered well enough to go home.  I visited him often in that NHCU.  He   told me  multiple time that the recovery from the CABG was much more than he had ever imagined.  If he had it to do overs again he would not have undergone the CABG.  He would have allowed himself to  die and he had first intended to do.

NOTE:  Medical science can prolong clinical life.  But that may (?) not increase the quality of life.  In addition when the body commits to death, while we may be able to post pone   it, we can not prevent it.  Case in point, we can pump blood through the  body but only for a time.  The time will come when the body says enough is enough and the end will come.

NOTE:  I have personally seen situations where family and patients were told that an aggressive procedure   would likely increase the life by three (3) days.  Sometimes the decision was to go for it for personal reasons.  Such choices are individual and must be made by those involved.
 

[Outta Here]

Great article on the struggles the medical teams must face with caring for patients suffering from life-threatening illness. I particularly liked the statement, " God does not require a ventilator to perform a miracle.  "

 

(Nothing to do with the article at all, but sometimes life has to be quantity--else, suicide looks awfully tempting.)

 

[Lauralea]

2 hours ago, Aubrey said:

Great article on the struggles the medical teams must face with caring for patients suffering from life-threatening illness. I particularly liked the statement, " God does not require a ventilator to perform a miracle.  "

 

(Nothing to do with the article at all, but sometimes life has to be quantity--else, suicide looks awfully tempting.)

 

When our life is difficult particularly  for reasons not due to a terminal illness one can hope it will improve. This sustained me before I became a Christian. Now the hope of eternity sustains me. Those who contemplate suicide as an alternative need help from those qualified to help them, most of all from God.

[LifeHiscost]

31 minutes ago, Lauralea said:

When our life is difficult particularly  for reasons not due to a terminal illness one can hope it will improve. This sustained me before I became a Christian. Now the hope of eternity sustains me. Those who contemplate suicide as an alternative need help from those qualified to help them, most of all from God.

Seems to me I remember a man named Samson who decided his life was secondary to other considerations..

God is Love!~Jesus saves! 

[Lauralea]

52 minutes ago, LifeHiscost said:

Seems to me I remember a man named Samson who decided his life was secondary to other considerations..

God is Love!~Jesus saves! 

Samson was like someone killed in a dangerous maneuver in battle. He knew the Lord could supernaturally save his life but prayed He would not. He sacrificed his life to achieve a goal of the Israelites at that time , their deliverance from the Philistines. Similarly Jesus did not commit suicide but sacrificed His life for our deliverance.