Acta medica Croatica : c̆asopis Hravatske akademije medicinskih znanosti
-
The goal of palliative care is to provide the best possible quality of life for patients and their families in the process of dying as well as before, during the course of illness. Emphasis is on the role of team approach in every aspect of patient care. The moral principles of sacredness of life and the right of personal autonomy may occasionally come in conflict. ⋯ The role of the "directive for the future" and proxy-decision-makers becomes problematic for the following reasons. By the time when the directives should be implemented many forms of medical treatment have been further developed, so that the illness may have become curable or treatment easier. Older and weak people that need care and feel they pose a burden could feel forced to sign directives for the future if they are legally obligatory.