The terminally ill--secular and Jewish ethical aspects

Many ethical, religious, social and legal dilemmas are involved in the care of dying patients. Major changes and developments in recent years have greatly intensified these moral problems. In this article a comprehensive analysis of the relevant principles and practical approaches is offered in order to enhance the ability of health care providers to attain morally sound decisions concerning the dying patient. The relevant ethical principles include the following: value of life, quality of life, nonmaleficence, beneficence, autonomy, paternalism, justice, and the physician's integrity. In practical terms, there are three major categories: the patient, the treatment and the decision maker. A comparative analysis between secular and Jewish attitudes towards the terminally ill patient has revealed significant differences both in the fundamental underlying principles as well as in the practical solutions to the diverse and difficult ethical problems.