A Physician's Moral Dilemma in the Emergency Department: Going Against a Patient's Perceived Wishes

Publication date: Available online 19 September 2016
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Shahla Siddiqui
ObjectivesWe describe a case where a patient at the end of life with an advanced medical directive in place presents to the ED in distress.Case ReportOur case is of a middle aged male with advanced cancer who presents in the ED with his family in respiratory distress requiring intubation. Even though his advanced medical directive states not for prolonged life sustaining support his wife and daughters plead with the physicians to save his life in order to end his suffering as well as prepare them for a more peaceful death.ConclusionWe discuss the ethical and moral distress faced by ED physicians in such acute scenarios where a patient's perceived wishes are not in line with their families' pleas.



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