PLAYING GOD AND THE REMOVAL OF LIFE-PROLONGING THERAPY

''Playing God'' is the charge frequently leveled when physicians and p atients agree to withdraw life-sustaining medical treatments and let t he patient die. The accusation rings hollow in the context of four hun dred years of moral reflection on the duty of an individual to undergo medical treatments to preserve life. From the teachings of Soto and B anez in the 16th century through the President's, Commission 1983 repo rt 'deciding to forego life-sustaining treatments' there-is a clear an d constant teaching that though life is sacred it is not an absolute a nd our moral duty to preserve it is Limited and based on rational refl ection. No patient need undergo any treatment or procedure that is ''d isproportionately'' costly, burdensome, or painful. The assessment of whether to accept or reject a proposed treatment is in part subjective and belongs to the individual patient. The only remaining issue is ho w to make that judgment far those unable to speak for themselves.