A 60-year-old man suffering from high blood pressure has beenseeing a doctor for 2 years. One night he collapsed while taking abath at home and then was taken to ER, diagnosed subarachnoidhemorrhage. Eventually, he became to be in a brain death condition.He has executed a living will which mentions that he does not wishany treatment for life extension when there is no possibility ofrecovering from coma condition. Which means, according to hisliving will, his doctor needs to take a ventilator away from himsoon. His wife, however, is not prepared for that moment and askedthe doctor to wait for a little more time although she has knownabout her husband’s living will very well. She seems to be stablewhen she is staying by his bed, but when the doctor talks to herabout taking a ventilator from him, she becomes emotional so thatthe doctor cannot go on to the next step. The doctor is afraid ofthat she will be suffered from mental illness if the ventilator wastaken away from her husband while the doctor concerns the patient’sliving will. The couple has two daughters and a son who are both intheir 30s and 20s, and 3 grandchildren. They are all living aroundthe town and come to a hospital few times a week. The familyrelationship is very well.

Questions

1. How should the balance between a living will and family’swish be taken in this case?
2. What would you do if you were his doctor? How about if you wereone of the children of the couple?

3. Is a living will always prior to other’s request? What arethe legal perspectives on a living will in your country?

4. Is the patient’s right violated because his living will havebeen ignored?

5. If a ventilator is taken away from the patient against hiswife’s request, is it possible to say that the wife’s right ordignity was ignored by a sole interest of society which here is asystem of “living will”?