Discussion – Who is Responsible for making decisions if incapacitated and incapable?

Discussion – Who is Responsible for making decisions if incapacitated and incapable?

To whom should the duty and responsibility fall when a patient is suddenly rendered incapacitated and incapable of making her own medical decisions, yet has no living will? If married, should the decision automatically fall to the spouse? Under what conditions would it not be rational for the spouse to become the decision maker? If the ultimate decision were to fall to either the court or the medical provider, whom should society choose?

Please propose, in this your final discussion, possible measures that could be taken to both educate the public about the need for

such planning and, also, those concrete measures that could be taken by lawmakers to implement better legal preparation for end of life and incapacity issues.

Include at least 2-3 sources approximately 150 to 300 words (2-3 parapgraph)

Solution Preview

Discussion

In the healthcare system, when a patient suddenly falls ill and becomes incapacitated to make medical decisions about their health and welfare, it is imperative to consider several options before a medical practitioner can take discretion on the direction to take. The first step should be to assess whether the patient had an agreement and instructions to be followed if he or she was incapacitated.

(340 words)