Suicide attempts and resuscitation dilemmas. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1989. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Suicide attempts and resuscitation dilemmas.

Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1988 Nov;10(6):423-30. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/89078958
Karlinsky H; Taerk G; Schwartz K; Ennis J; Rodin G; Department of Psychiatry, Toronto General Hospital, University of; Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract: The conventional psychiatric opinion that suicide is a manifestation of psychiatric illness may not apply to circumstances in which suicide or the refusal of life-sustaining medical treatment results from the rational decisions of autonomous individuals. As medical technology advances, questions about the prolongation of life and the discontinuation of medical treatment have become commonplace in the medical setting. In this context, contradictions may exist between the principle of patient autonomy and that of physician responsibility. Dilemmas about treatment decisions that emerge from these conflicting perspectives are highlighted in this article. We report two cases of attempted suicide in the context, respectively, of (1) terminal illness and (2) advanced age. Some of the complex psychiatric, ethical, and legal issues related to the case reports are addressed.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/PSYCHOLOGY Aged Aged, 80 and over Case Report *Ethics, Medical Euthanasia, Passive Human Informed Consent/*LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD Male Middle Age *Resuscitation Right to Die/LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD Suicide, Attempted/*LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD Terminal Care/LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/psychologyagedaged,80andovercasereportKWDethics,medicaleuthanasia,passivehumaninformedconsent/KWDlegislation&jurisprudmalemiddleageKWDresuscitationrighttodie/legislation&jurisprudsuicide,attempted/KWDlegislation&jurisprudterminalcare/legislation&jurisprudjournalarticle
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Copyright © 1989 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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