Related Experiment Videos
Bioethics for clinicians: 6. Advance care planning
P A Singer1, G Robertson, D J Roy
1University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics, Toronto ON. peter.Singer@utoronto.ca
Summary
Advance care planning empowers patients to make future healthcare decisions with their providers. This process upholds patient autonomy and ensures informed consent, even if they later lose decision-making capacity.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Patient Autonomy
- Healthcare Law
Background:
- Advance care planning involves patients, healthcare providers, and families in future healthcare decisions.
- It is rooted in the ethical principle of autonomy and the legal doctrine of consent.
- It ensures patient wishes are respected when they cannot participate in treatment decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of advance care planning.
- To define the role of physicians in facilitating advance care planning.
- To ensure patient autonomy and informed consent in future healthcare.
Main Methods:
- Consultation between patients, healthcare providers, and family members.
- Informing patients about advance care planning resources.
- Counselling patients through the advance care planning process.
- Assisting patients in tailoring advance directives to their prognosis.
Main Results:
- Advance care planning respects patient autonomy.
- It ensures the norm of consent is upheld.
- Physicians play a crucial role in guiding patients through this process.
Conclusions:
- Advance care planning is essential for respecting patient autonomy.
- Physician involvement is key to successful advance care planning.
- Advance directives tailored to prognosis ensure patient wishes are honored.