Patient informed choice for altruism

Camb Q Healthc Ethics. 2014 Oct;23(4):397-402. doi: 10.1017/S0963180114000073. Epub 2014 Jul 17.

Abstract

Respect for persons protects patients regarding their own healthcare decisions. Patient informed choice for altruism (PICA) is a proposed means for a fully autonomous patient with decisionmaking capacity to limit his or her own treatment for altruistic reasons. An altruistic decision could bond the patient with others at the end of life. We contend that PICA can also be an advance directive option. The proxy, family, and physicians must be reminded that a patient's altruistic treatment refusal should be respected.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Altruism*
  • Decision Making / ethics*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / complications
  • Heart Failure / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Informed Consent / ethics*
  • Personal Autonomy
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / complications
  • Terminally Ill*
  • Treatment Refusal / ethics*