TREATMENT REFUSAL BY AN ELDERLY MAN SUFFERING INTENSELY FROM TREATMENT-RESISTANT DEPRESSION

Authors
CHRISTENSEN RC VANMCCRARY S
Citation
Rc. Christensen et S. Vanmccrary, TREATMENT REFUSAL BY AN ELDERLY MAN SUFFERING INTENSELY FROM TREATMENT-RESISTANT DEPRESSION, Psychiatric services, 46(2), 1995, pp. 181-183
Citations number
10
Categorie Soggetti
Psychiatry,"Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath",Psychiatry,"Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath
Journal title
Psychiatric services → ACNP
ISSN journal
10752730
Volume
46
Issue
2
Year of publication
1995
Pages
181 - 183
Database
ISI
SICI code
1075-2730(1995)46:2<181:TRBAEM>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
The authors consider the ethical issues involved in a case in which an elderly man suffering from recurrent, treatment-resistant depression expressed a wish to forgo life-sustaining treatment should it become n ecessary. The patient had no immediate life-threatening medical condit ions belt was in danger of becoming malnourished and dehydrated. The a uthors conclude that unrelieved suffering resulting from depression, w hen combined with repeated treatment failures, may justify refusal of life-sustaining treatment in very rare cases.