What are the legal issues surrounding end-of-life care?

End-of-life care is a difficult subject and involves numerous legal issues. In California, the End of Life Option Act provides terminally ill adults the option to request and receive a prescription for a lethal dose of drugs for self-administration. This allows patients to choose a peaceful and humane death in the face of a terminal illness. Advance directives, such as a health care directive, also help individuals clarify their decision-making at end-of-life. This document indicates who will make medical decisions for them if they become unable to do so, as well as their preferences for care. Patients can also make requests for no CPR or artificial nutrition and hydration in the event of a medical crisis. To ensure legal protection of the patient’s wishes, they must be detailed and up to date. It is also important that doctors and nurses provide thoughtful advice to their patients who wish to die. The patient must be competent, ensure they are acting of their own free will, and get two oral and one written requests from the patient. Finally, the attending physician must certify that the patient is terminally ill and has been fully informed of all other available end-of-life options. In summary, end-of-life care involves legal issues such as advance directives, requests for care, and medical guidelines, all of which should be clearly articulated and thoroughly discussed with the patient.

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What are the legal issues surrounding end-of-life care?

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