Removing an LVAD wire for a patient
i’m currently watching Chicago Med and the following scenario comes up:
a patient is experiencing reoccurring ulcers that cause intense pain. he finds them insufferable. these are related to the LVAD wire that he has which pumps his blood because his heart is too weak to do it himself. he is on the list for a donor heart but is far down, and he’s not a candidate for an artificial heart. he asks multiple times to have his LVAD wire removed despite knowing it was almost guaranteed that he would die hours later. he attempts to remove it once himself, but the doctors save him. they evaluate him and declare that he is of sound mind. reluctantly, after asking for a consult, the doctor agrees to remove the LVAD wire like the patient asked
so: do you agree with the doctors actions?
should this be classed as physician assisted suicide?
if PAS is illegal in the area this occurs, should it be possible to charge the doctor?
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