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A Step Towards Democratization Of Health Care Services: Patient Involvement In Terminal Life Support Decisions
Rabia KAHVECİa
aAile Hekimliği Kliniği, Ankara Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, ANKARA
The effectiveness and organizational structure of health care system in Turkey is widely discussed. But it is often forgotten that more active role of public in decisions would be essential for more effective health care provision. Public involvement in health care decisions might be in different levels, one of which is patient’s involvement in decision making process of his treatment. While advance directives- living will and health care power of attorney- which are involvement of patients in their terminal life support decisions, are discussed comprehensively in the world, this process has not been initiated in Turkey yet. As a step of involvement of patients in decisions in the health care system, advance directives should be started to be discussed in many ways. Advance directives are written documents that, in the case of a serious illness, either clarify an individual’s wishes for health care or name a person to make health care decisions for that individual if he or she becomes unable to do so. A living will is a document that specifically describes what types of medical treatment you will permit in order to prolong your life. The durable power of attorney for health care is also a signed, dated and witnessed legal document that transfers health care decision-making power to a specific person should an individual become unable to make his or her own health care decisions. It should be emphasized that related studies will lead to legal, social, ethical and medical discussions and will bring legal regulations and organizational changes with it. Initiating this discussion would be an important step to democratize health care services.Keywords: Advance directives; living wills; delivery of health care; patient rights; decision makingTurkiye Klinikleri J Med Ethics 2007, 15:90-93
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