Puri V K, Weber L J
Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital, Detroit, MI.
J Med Humanit. 1990 Summer;11(2):91-9. doi: 10.1007/BF01650689.
In matters of discontinuation of life-sustaining treatment, traditional role of the family to speak on behalf of the incompetent patient is questionable. We explore the reasons why physicians perceive patient autonomy to be transferrable to family members. Principle of patient autonomy may not suffice when futile treatment is demanded and may serve to erode the ethical integrity of medical profession. An enhanced role for bioethics committees is proposed when physicians propose to discontinue life-sustaining treatment against the wishes of the patient or their families.
在停止维持生命治疗的问题上，家庭代表无行为能力患者发言的传统角色值得质疑。我们探究了医生认为患者自主权可转移给家庭成员的原因。当要求进行无效治疗时，患者自主权原则可能并不充分，且可能有损医学职业的伦理完整性。当医生提议违背患者或其家人的意愿停止维持生命治疗时，建议加强生物伦理委员会的作用。
