I have been warning for years that Futile Care theorists were going to become increasingly bold in attempting to impose their quality of life judgments on unwilling patients and families. A very important futility case is ongoing right now in Winnipeg, Canada, in which a hospital insists that it has the right to refuse wanted life-sustaining treatment—even though the patient’s condition has recently improved. From the story:
Two weeks after Samuel Golubchuk’s family went to court to stop doctors from pulling him off life support last month because he had minimal brain activity, he showed signs he was improving neurologically.
A week later, while doctors still argued to disconnect his ventilator and pull out his feeding tube, the 84-year-old Golubchuk was seen by medical staff to be “awake”. But on Friday in court, more than a month after the battle to keep him alive began, lawyers for the family and doctors were continuing to argue because the physicians say they still need to have control over deciding when to pull the plug.
After court, the family’s lawyer, Neil Kravetsky, said Golubchuk is alive today only because of the court’s intervention.”He would be dead if the injunction had been off,” Kravetsky said. “He is showing improvement and neurological responses according to his (hospital) chart. His eyes follow sound and movement. The chart says ‘awake’.”What does awake mean to you?”
But lawyer Bill Olson, who represents Grace hospital, said even if Golubchuk has improved, he still isn’t as well as he was when he entered the hospital’s intensive care unit and his prognosis continues to be dim.So, how does the ubiquitous notion of “choice” compute with Futile Care Theory? It doesn’t. But that is because “choice” isn’t the real agenda. Imposing a quality of life ethic and imposing health care rationing is what medical futility is really all about. Indeed, one must work very hard to not see the direction in which the bioethical current is flowing.
Can we say, “duty to die?”
Time is short, so I’ll be direct: FIRST THINGS needs you. And we need you by December 31 at 11:59 p.m., when the clock will strike zero. Give now at supportfirstthings.com.
First Things does not hesitate to call out what is bad. Today, there is much to call out. Yet our editors, authors, and readers like you share a greater purpose. And we are guided by a deeper, more enduring hope.
Your gift of $50, $100, or even $250 or more will bring this message of hope to many more people in the new year.
Make your gift now at supportfirstthings.com.
First Things needs you. I’m confident you’ll answer the call.
