Discussion:
aggressive palliative care
Is it ethically acceptable to provide aggressive palliative care that is likely or even certain to hasten a patient's death? What ethical ideas inform your perspective on this issue?
Under which conditions is it appropriate for a physician to deny a patient's desired palliative treatment? For example, is it ethically acceptable for a physician to deny a patient palliative care on the grounds that this care might hasten the patient's death or cause the patient to become addicted to the pain medication.