In Favour of Medical Dissensus: Why We Should Agree to Disagree About End-of-Life Decisions

End-of-life decision-making is controversial. There are different views about when it is appropriate to limit life-sustaining treatment, and about what palliative options are permissible. One approach to decisions of this nature sees consensus as crucial. Decisions to limit treatment are made only i...

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Autori: Wilkinson, Dominic (Autore) ; Savulescu, Julian 1963- (Autore) ; Truog, Robert (Autore)
Tipo di documento: Elettronico Articolo
Lingua:Inglese
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Pubblicazione: Wiley-Blackwell [2016]
In: Bioethics
Anno: 2016, Volume: 30, Fascicolo: 2, Pagine: 109-118
Notazioni IxTheo:NCH Etica della medicina
Altre parole chiave:B intensive care
B Medical Ethics
B withdrawing treatment
B Consensus
B Neuroethics
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Riepilogo:End-of-life decision-making is controversial. There are different views about when it is appropriate to limit life-sustaining treatment, and about what palliative options are permissible. One approach to decisions of this nature sees consensus as crucial. Decisions to limit treatment are made only if all or a majority of caregivers agree. We argue, however, that it is a mistake to require professional consensus in end-of-life decisions. In the first part of the article we explore practical, ethical, and legal factors that support agreement. We analyse subjective and objective accounts of moral reasoning: accord is neither necessary nor sufficient for decisions. We propose an alternative norm for decisions - that of ‘professional dissensus’. In the final part of the article we address the role of agreement in end-of-life policy. Such guidelines can ethically be based on dissensus rather than consensus. Disagreement is not always a bad thing.
ISSN:1467-8519
Comprende:Enthalten in: Bioethics
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/bioe.12162