Should doctors have the decision to "pull the plug" on terminally ill patients?

Question

what is your opinion on this matter?

Should doctors be given the right to "pull the plug" on their patients if they are terminally ill?

OR

keep at it and not give up on their patient?

Answer 1

No, I will not recommend that as I have seen many patients walking off the ventilator, going home alive.
However if the brain, and the kidneys and other vitals organs are involved and the patient is not placed on ventilator support, than go for the symptomatic course.
Who are the doctors to Pull the plug. Try your level best and leave the rest to God.

Answer 2

Yes. I would much rather die that way instead of being ravaged by some horrible illness. You'd have no quality of life anyway and you should get to choose the way you want to die. Oregon has an assisted suicide law. It's called Death With Dignity. If I get to the point where I'm terminally ill, I will move back to Oregon and take advantage of that law.

Answer 3

No it should be left up to the patient and the family.
I doubt any doctor would want to be put in the position of having to make that decision.

Answer 4

It is a personal decision first...if there is no living will then it should be the family...the Dr should be there to advise. There is a point where it is abuse to keep putting the patient thru the misery of being that ill...my opinion.

Answer 5

Tough question! Maybe there should be a time limit they have to wait, like 3 months. Not sure.Ultimately, they know more medically but this is a moral question that the family has to face.

Answer 6

, yes i would say i agree with pulling the plug.providing there is no cure for the person in question,as to see people suffer is so awful,and if the relatives agree.