Tuyển tập các báo cáo nghiên cứu về y học được đăng trên tạp chí y học General Psychiatry cung cấp cho các bạn kiến thức về ngành y đề tài: ‘Round-table’ ethical debate: is a suicide note an authoritative ‘living will’? | Available online http content 5 3 115 Commentary Round-table ethical debate is a suicide note an authoritative living will David Crippen moderator Donald B Chalfin Cory Franklin David F Kelly Jack K Kilcullen Stephen Streat Robert D Truogfl and Leslie M Whetstine St Francis Medical Center Pittsburgh Philadelphia USA Department of Emergency Medicine Maimonides Medical Center Brooklyn New York USA Department of Medical Ethics Duquesne University Pittsburgh Philadelphia USA Department of Critical Care Montifiore Medical Center Bronx New York USA Department of Critical Care Medicine Auckland Hospital Auckland New Zealand MICU Children s Hospital Boston Massachusetts USA Correspondence David Crippen MD FCCM St Francis Medical Center Pittsburgh PA 15201 USA. E-mail crippen @ Received 20 April 2001 Accepted 22 April 2001 Published 2 May 2001 Critical Care 2001 5 115-124 2001 BioMed Central Ltd Print ISSN 1364-8535 Online ISSN 1466-609X Abstract Living wills are often considered by physicians who are faced with a dying patient. Although popular with the general public they remain problems of authenticity and authority. It is difficult for the examining physician to know whether the patient understood the terms of the advance directive when they signed it and whether they still consider it authoritative at the time that it is produced. Also there is little consensus on what spectrum of instruments constitutes a binding advance directive in real life. Does a suicide note constitute an authentic and authoritative living will Our panel of authorities considers this problem in a round-table discussion. Keywords advance directives autonomy critical care living wills medical ethics suicide The scenario Harry was found near a smoking gun with his face severed from his skull. He was still breathing so paramedics inserted an endotracheal tube and took him to the emergency room where he displayed strong vital signs and ventilated well with normal oxygen .
