Principles Guiding Care at the End of Life
[by the American College of Surgeons]
The following "Principles Guiding Care at the End of Life" were developed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Ethics and were approved by the Board of Regents at its February 1998 meeting.
- Respect the dignity of both patient and caregivers.
- Be sensitive to and respectful of the patient's and family's wishes.
- Use the most appropriate measures that are consistent with the choices of the patient or the patient's legal surrogate.
- Ensure alleviation of pain and management of other physical symptoms.
- Recognize, assess, and address psychological, social, and spiritual problems.
- Ensure appropriate continuity of care by the patient's primary and/or specialist physician.
- Provide access to therapies that may realistically be expected to improve the patient's quality of life.
- Provide access to appropriate palliative care and hospice care.
- Respect the patient's right to refuse treatment.
- Recognize the physician's responsibility to forego treatments that are futile.
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Reprinted from Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons
Vol.83, No. 04, April 1998
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