Consent in the face of death

Camilla L Scanlan; Cameron Stewart; Ian Kerridge

doi:10.1111/imj.14173

Consent in the face of death

Intern Med J. 2019 Jan;49(1):108-110. doi: 10.1111/imj.14173.

Authors

Camilla L Scanlan¹, Cameron Stewart^{1

2}, Ian Kerridge^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Sydney Health Ethics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
² Sydney Law School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Haematology Department, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

PMID: 30680896
DOI: 10.1111/imj.14173

Abstract

While the traditional model of consent is supported by codes and theories of ethics, is enshrined in law, and provides the core of health policy and clinical governance, it is unclear how accurately it reflects clinical practice and in particular how accurately it accounts for edition-making in 'high-risk' situations where patients are critically ill and facing death.

Keywords: consent; death; decision-making; ethics; high risk medical intervention.

MeSH terms

Critical Illness*
Death
Decision Making / ethics*
Ethics, Medical*
Humans
Informed Consent*
Mental Competency / legislation & jurisprudence*