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Medical Ethics In The Decision of Terminal Treatment For Dying Patients and Roles of Medical Personnel

  • The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics
  • Abbr : 기사윤
  • 2011, (21), pp.71-101
  • Publisher : The Society Of Korean Christian Social Ethics
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology

Lee Sang Koo 1

1단국대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The place where people meet the end of their lives is changing in medical institution and the incidence of medical decisions in relation to the terminal treatment is increasingly made by health care providers. According to bioethics that is required in health care providers, medical treatment in purpose of extending valuable life is considered undoubtedly necessary. However, the maintenance of unnecessary treatment in un-revivable patients is considered medically futile treatment that can arouse social and ethical problems. Also, termination of life-sustaining treatment in un-revivable patients leads to death of the patient, which can bring up problems related to death with dignity or euthanasias. In the actual medical field, it is not easy to make a terminal treatment decision as in to which extent is a patient un-revivable, and to which extent should the treatment be done. The consequence of the decision, ethical conflicts, and legal problems are even more complicated. Therefore, in this paper, we will look at objectives in terminal treatment and the structures in decision-making process for treatment plans, and inspect social status by looking into current trends and issues in termination of life-sustaining treatment. Also, we will analyze the Medical ethics and ethics in the Bible for the making of decisions in selecting patients in need for terminal treatment, and the role and limitation of Christian health care providers in making that decision. Conclusively, Christian health care providers should not rely on objective probability of revival or scientific knowledge, but treat the patient, that God has entrusted us, according to the Bible ethics. The patient should be treated not only physically but also spiritually, and effective communication method is needed with the patient’s family in order to be a professional who can provide all information needed for making the best decision in future treatment.

Citation status

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