Patient Rights At The End Of Life: Provider Attitudes Toward End Of Life Decisions

Abstract

As a society we have recognize that an individual should have the right to provide informed consent regarding his or her care. This right extends to end of life decisions as long as they do not contradict current legal mandates (for example assisted suicide).  Virtually all 50 states have passed legislation which allows patients to refuse life support and at the Federal level the Patient Self-Determination Act (1990) promotes this right at least within an Health Maintenance Organization environment.