@article{ART002759560},
author={Jiyeon Choi and Heejung Jeon and Ilhak LEE},
title={Making Decisions for Unbefriended Patients on Life-Sustaining-Treatment in South Korea: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences},
journal={Korean Journal of Medical Ethics },
issn={2005-8284},
year={2021},
volume={24},
number={3},
pages={271-285},
doi={10.35301/ksme.2021.24.3.271}
TY - JOUR
AU - Jiyeon Choi
AU - Heejung Jeon
AU - Ilhak LEE
TI - Making Decisions for Unbefriended Patients on Life-Sustaining-Treatment in South Korea: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences
JO - Korean Journal of Medical Ethics
PY - 2021
VL - 24
IS - 3
PB - The Korean Society For Medical Ethics
SP - 271
EP - 285
SN - 2005-8284
AB - Purpose: This study attempts to clarify the difficulties faced by healthcare professionals in South Korea in making and implementing Life-Sustaining Treatment (LST) decisions for vulnerable patients who lack legally competent proxy decision-makers.
Materials and Methods: First, a keyword analysis was performed on the official responses of the National Health Agency of Korea to 750 questions from healthcare workers. Second, a survey probing the difficulties that healthcare professionals face in making LST decisions was administered to the ethics committee members of 246 medical institutions.
Results: From the keyword analysis, 139 keywords were categorized into ten subcategories. The survey had a 32.5% response rate, and of the respondents, 41.98% faced difficulties in making decisions for unrepresented patients because of the absence of family members or due to inadequate evidence. Among these patients, 82.35% did not have decision-making ability at the time of need and 85.29% had no family members to consult with.
Conclusion: Four categories of “unbefriended” patients were identified in this study. Additionally, in uncovering evidence on how LST decisions are implemented and creating a category of “unbe-friended patients,” this study underscores the need to expand the scope of legal proxies under the LST Decisions Act.
KW - proxy;clinical ethics;decision making;end-of-life decision;Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision Act
DO - 10.35301/ksme.2021.24.3.271
ER -
Jiyeon Choi, Heejung Jeon and Ilhak LEE. (2021). Making Decisions for Unbefriended Patients on Life-Sustaining-Treatment in South Korea: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences. Korean Journal of Medical Ethics , 24(3), 271-285.
Jiyeon Choi, Heejung Jeon and Ilhak LEE. 2021, "Making Decisions for Unbefriended Patients on Life-Sustaining-Treatment in South Korea: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences", Korean Journal of Medical Ethics , vol.24, no.3 pp.271-285. Available from: doi:10.35301/ksme.2021.24.3.271
Jiyeon Choi, Heejung Jeon, Ilhak LEE "Making Decisions for Unbefriended Patients on Life-Sustaining-Treatment in South Korea: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences" Korean Journal of Medical Ethics 24.3 pp.271-285 (2021) : 271.
Jiyeon Choi, Heejung Jeon, Ilhak LEE. Making Decisions for Unbefriended Patients on Life-Sustaining-Treatment in South Korea: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences. 2021; 24(3), 271-285. Available from: doi:10.35301/ksme.2021.24.3.271
Jiyeon Choi, Heejung Jeon and Ilhak LEE. "Making Decisions for Unbefriended Patients on Life-Sustaining-Treatment in South Korea: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences" Korean Journal of Medical Ethics 24, no.3 (2021) : 271-285.doi: 10.35301/ksme.2021.24.3.271
Jiyeon Choi; Heejung Jeon; Ilhak LEE. Making Decisions for Unbefriended Patients on Life-Sustaining-Treatment in South Korea: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences. Korean Journal of Medical Ethics , 24(3), 271-285. doi: 10.35301/ksme.2021.24.3.271
Jiyeon Choi; Heejung Jeon; Ilhak LEE. Making Decisions for Unbefriended Patients on Life-Sustaining-Treatment in South Korea: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences. Korean Journal of Medical Ethics . 2021; 24(3) 271-285. doi: 10.35301/ksme.2021.24.3.271
Jiyeon Choi, Heejung Jeon, Ilhak LEE. Making Decisions for Unbefriended Patients on Life-Sustaining-Treatment in South Korea: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences. 2021; 24(3), 271-285. Available from: doi:10.35301/ksme.2021.24.3.271
Jiyeon Choi, Heejung Jeon and Ilhak LEE. "Making Decisions for Unbefriended Patients on Life-Sustaining-Treatment in South Korea: Healthcare Providers’ Experiences" Korean Journal of Medical Ethics 24, no.3 (2021) : 271-285.doi: 10.35301/ksme.2021.24.3.271