• Ofra G Golan.
• Harefuah. 2009 Apr 1;148(4):248-9, 276.

AbstractThe provision of care for the dying patient confronts the caring team with very complex ethical dilemmas that doctors have no "medical" means to manage. Such decisions should be made according to the patient's will and preferences reflecting the value of life and the quality of life. However, many patients are not competent at this stage to decide or to express their wishes. Therefore, the Dying Patient Law of 2005, recognized advance expression of will through advance directives and power of attorney. Yet, there are many difficulties in the actual application of this idea. Dr. Shalev's article in this issue, to which this editorial relates, discusses the problems of communication between doctor and patient at the stage of preparing advance directives, and suggests a way to handle these deliberations. The Israeli law of 2005 provides some original solutions to other obstacles presented in the Literature as causing "the failure of the Living will". One resolution is the requirement that an explanation of the relevant medical information be given by a doctor or a nurse to the person who wishes to prepare written advance directives. This article suggests that the required explanation should be given within the framework of a discussion that simulates a process of informed consent for an unknown scenario at the end-of-life. Such discussions should be conducted as a dialogue, in which the doctor, first and foremost, Listens to the patient in order to clarify his/her worries and wishes, according to which specific medical orders can then be formulated.

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