Introduction
Doctors evaluate patients, assess their medical history, diagnose their illnesses, and recommend the best course of therapy. Doctors are now better equipped to treat various diseases due to the advancement of medical technology. Helping and preserving the lives of others is the foundation of their whole field of study. Whether physicians should be in charge of deciding who receives life-saving therapy has been contested. Others contend that it is against patient autonomy for doctors to determine who receives life-saving treatments and who does not. Nonetheless, the decision-making process for life-saving therapies should be left to those most knowledgeable and with the requisite training because a doctor’s job is to treat patients.
Should Doctors Be Responsible for Determining Who Receives Life Saving Treatment?
Students studying to become doctors are taught how to handle complex decision-making scenarios in the healthcare sector. Doctors are trained to weigh their options and base their decisions on what they discover when deciding who should get life-saving therapies. According to Fink’s article, “The Hardest Question Doctors May Face,” she stated, “In the United States some guidelines already exist for this grim task” (Fink, 2020, para. 7). This means that physicians are already aware of the value of assisting those in need during life-saving situations. They are given a setup guideline to assist them in making appropriate decisions. This demonstrates that medical professionals follow a tried-and-true method rather than merely doing as they choose. Due to this, medical professionals should be in charge of selecting life-saving procedures.
A set of moral guidelines that put the well-being of patients first serves as a guide for doctors. Making decisions on treating patients in various circumstances is a vital duty of a practicing physician. Thus, these values—including autonomy, informed consent, beneficence, confidentiality, and justice—are taught to medical students and physicians. These choices entail more than just picking the best course of treatment. Doctors who adhere to these standards make the best choices for their patients. As Olejarczyk & Young (2022) asserts, “the patient must necessarily place great reliance, faith, and confidence in the professional world, advice, and acts of the physician” (para. 18). By upholding these ethical values, doctors may make decisions based on the interests of specific patients and the greater community.
While doctors play a crucial role in making decisions regarding patient treatment, respecting patient autonomy remains a significant aspect of healthcare. According to Carbonaro, in her article “A Matter of Life and Death,” she stated, “doctors and hospitals in their practice follow principles that have been established in the history of medical ethics (Carbonaro, 2020 para. 12). Patients have the right to decide how they will be treated, particularly in instances where it is a matter of life or death. Patient’s autonomy may be compromised by being kept out of the decision-making process, which may also result in frustration or mistrust of the healthcare system. Patients involved in conversations concerning their treatment choices can offer insightful feedback and come to conclusions that reflect their preferences and beliefs.
Conclusion
Overall, a doctor’s responsibility is to treat patients who are unwell and offer advice on improving their health. Therefore, it is advisable to delegate the choice of life-saving procedures to those with the requisite training and understanding in the healthcare sector. It would be beneficial to leave the decision to those with the most expertise in life-saving treatments, as their field of study is built on aiding and saving others. The medical ethics that guide physicians throughout their work assist them in their decision-making, even though they are still people and subject to anxiety and lack of confidence.
References
Carbonaro, G. (2020). A matter of life and death: Which patients should doctors treat first? Cgtn. Web.
Fink, S. (2020). The hardest questions doctors may face: Who will be saved? Who won’t? The New York Times. Web.
Olejarczyk, J. P., & Young, M. (2022). Patient rights and ethics. StatPearls Publishing. Web.