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KMID : 1172020030040010001
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Journal of Korean Bioethics Association
2003 Volume.4 No. 1 p.1 ~ p.20
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Ethics on Withholding Terminal Care
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Kim Joong-Ho
Hong Suk-Young
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Abstract
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Human life is a basic and precious good. But it is a limited good insofar as it is a condition for pursuing the spiritual goods of life. Medical treatment must be evaluated in the light of the patient’s ability to pursue these spiritual goods of life. Ordinary means are morally obligatory because they offer a reasonable hope of benefit in helping one to pursue the spiritual goods of life. However, extraordinary means are normally optional because they impose excessive burden and profoundly discourage hope of gain(benefit) in pursuing the spiritual goods of life. The terms ’ordinary’ and ’extraordinary’ are less clear today; perhaps the terms ’proportionate’ and ’disproportionate’ are more accurate. How does one assess the proportionality of means? One should study the type of treatment in accordance to: degree of complexity of risk, costs involved, and prospective value, then compare these elements with expected results, taking into account one’s overall medical condition and physical and moral resources. Medical treatment is clearly distinguished from nutrition and hydration. Medical treatment is therapeutic and aimed at curing disease, while nutrition and hydration are directed at sustaining life and promoting the inherent dignity of the patient. Therefore the removal of medically assisted nutrition and hydration from terminal patients is always morally wrong. Human life should be treated with dignity and respected at every stage.
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KEYWORD
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withholding terminal care, ordinary means, extraordinary means, the proportionality of means, dignity of human life.
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