Withholding and Withdrawing Potentially Life-Sustaining Treatment

Withholding - not starting treatment that could be life-sustaining.

Withdrawing - stopping treatment that has the potential to be life-sustaining.

Patients have right to refuse life-sustaining treatment, or can request withdrawal of this treament.

Competency assessment should be done as needed. Patient's decisions need to be voluntary and informed. Treatment can be withheld or withdrawn against one's wishes only if futile - completely ineffective.

Artificial hydration/nutrition is viewed as a treatment, and can be withheld or withdrawan in that way.