OAR@UM Collection:https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/264812026-04-13T03:42:55Z2026-04-13T03:42:55ZThe elderly patient and quality of life judgementshttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/268052018-02-16T02:28:39Z2002-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: The elderly patient and quality of life judgements
Abstract: How does one define quality of life in the elderly age group?
Is it their health status; their functional status; whether they
are still living in their own homes; their financial means,
whether their favourite football team is winning? Since I have
been asked to discuss patients, I'll stick to health.2002-01-01T00:00:00ZThe rights of the dying patienthttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/268022018-02-16T02:28:33Z2002-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: The rights of the dying patient
Abstract: At no time in our history have we been so reluctant to face
death and discuss it. Death, which is such an intrinsic part of
life, has become a taboo for today's culture. In actual fact, it is
not death itself that people dread, but the manner, time and
even place of death. As a result of this fear to talk about death,
today's culture is facing the danger of leaving the dying to
approach their end unsupported not only by their relatives,
but even by health carers.
In order to provide the best possible care and treatment for
dying patients, nurses, doctors and other health care
professionals who come in direct contact with terminally-ill
patients need to be trained in those attitudes and dispositions
which enable them to approach the dying patient with skills
and confidence with which they treat other patients. Training
in palliative care, or care of the dying, needs to feature more
prominently in the curriculum of all health care professionals.2002-01-01T00:00:00ZThe advance directivehttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/267942018-02-16T02:28:40Z2002-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: The advance directive
Abstract: Advance directives are an indispensable and essential part
of medical practice today. They give the power to a patient to
make an informed choice, within the law of the country, about
him or her when mentally incapacitated, dying or in palliative
care. A patient may designate a trusted person or family doctor
to be his or her health care representative and take decisions
on his or her behalf. In this case the advance directive is a
written statement addressing who this 'power of attorney for
health care' is. The power of attorney, that is, the person acting
on the patient's behalf, obviates the problem that living wills
are not legally binding and therefore may be challenged by
relatives and the medical team. The word of the person
designated by the patient to act on his or her behalf is almost
as binding as the word of the patient.2002-01-01T00:00:00ZWitholding and withdrawing treatments : ethics at the bedsidehttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/267912018-02-16T02:28:33Z2002-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Witholding and withdrawing treatments : ethics at the bedside
Abstract: in the last few decades it has become clear that treatment
should not be prolonged indefinitely, when it has ceased to
provide a benefit for the patient. Mechanical respirators, artificial
hearts, dialysis machines, and resuscitation techniques can
prolong the act of dying and at great financial, social, and
emotional costs to individuals and society. Now the central
ethical question is: When is it morally permissible or even
mandatory to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatments?
How is Hippocrates' moral dictum to be implemented amid the
technical complexities of contemporary medicine?2002-01-01T00:00:00Z