Living wills have substantial limitations that generally addresses a narrow range of end-of-life decisions. It cannot anticipate all the serious medical circumstances the person may face in the future. A durable power of attorney for health care on the other hand differs from a living will, because it focuses mainly on the decision-making process and not on a specific decision (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper and Bucher, 2014). Potter, Perry, Stockert and Hall (2013), stated that end-of-life (EOL) decision making involves difficult decisions, such as whether to initiate or discontinue life support. Ill patients lack decision making capacity, due to the severity of illness and the nature of treatments which puts the family members in the role of decision-maker, where Mrs. Daly decided not to continue since she is the “next-of-kin” and probably chosen by the husband to make the decision for him. Palliative care focuses on preventing and relieving suffering as well as supporting the best possible quality of life for patients and their families facing serious illness (Potter, Perry, Stockert and Hall, 2013). In this case, Mr. Daly was not given his right of care to treat his pain. When a patient nears death, the goal of care changes from cure to comfort, and relieving symptoms is one of
Living wills have substantial limitations that generally addresses a narrow range of end-of-life decisions. It cannot anticipate all the serious medical circumstances the person may face in the future. A durable power of attorney for health care on the other hand differs from a living will, because it focuses mainly on the decision-making process and not on a specific decision (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper and Bucher, 2014). Potter, Perry, Stockert and Hall (2013), stated that end-of-life (EOL) decision making involves difficult decisions, such as whether to initiate or discontinue life support. Ill patients lack decision making capacity, due to the severity of illness and the nature of treatments which puts the family members in the role of decision-maker, where Mrs. Daly decided not to continue since she is the “next-of-kin” and probably chosen by the husband to make the decision for him. Palliative care focuses on preventing and relieving suffering as well as supporting the best possible quality of life for patients and their families facing serious illness (Potter, Perry, Stockert and Hall, 2013). In this case, Mr. Daly was not given his right of care to treat his pain. When a patient nears death, the goal of care changes from cure to comfort, and relieving symptoms is one of