If a patient in a coma, or who can’t make decisions, doesn’t have a Living Will, who decides whether to withdraw treatment?
If there is no Advance Directive by the patient, the decision is left to the patient’s family, physician and hospital, and may even be taken to a court. When your wishes are not clearly expressed, it may take days or weeks before a decision can be reached. During this time, your dying and suffering may be prolonged.
Related Questions
- Can I give my patient advocate the authority to make decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment, including food and water administered through tubes?
- Can I give my patient advocate the right to make decisions to withhold or withdraw life sustaining treatment?
- What happens if the hospital the patient wishes to go to doesn’t offer the treatment they need?
