The era of paternalism, in which a doctor instructed patients and their families what to do, is over, all the seminar participants agreed. The Patients' Rights Law, passed by the Knesset a few years ago, makes the individual a full partner in his care and establishes an ironclad right to withhold consent for procedures unless he has first heard about treatment risks and alternatives. Under Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, in order to qualify the patient would have to be sound of mind, state on three separate occasions before independent witnesses that he wanted to die, and get a full explanation of alternatives from doctors. These would designate exactly what medical procedures they are willing to undergo if they become terminally ill. The problem, Kasher noted, is that living wills are not legally binding in Israel, even though in the US the relatives of patients whose documents were ignored, prolonging their suffering, managed to win millions of dollars in compensation in the courts.
Death is a normal and unavoidable life passage.
General practitioners hear it an average of six times a year, while oncologists face the question 100 times. Yet the topic is rarely even indexed in textbooks, has been the subject of less than 4 percent of published studies, and is rarely stressed in medical training. The Great Plains FREE copy of Hadassah Magazine For women who want to be in the know Click here to return to page. The Jerusalem Post - All rights reserved, Click here for feedback and comments. Palm Post Edition sponsored by Davka Corporation .