Question

how is hospice care different from palliative care. *
your answer

explain one ethical difference between withdrawing treatment and euthanasia
your answer

an elderly patient with early - stage dementia refuses a feeding tube despite family concerns. physicians agree the patient understands the consequences but may forget the decision later.
using key vocab, justify the treatment that should be administered (should they or should they not use the feeding tube) given only this information, and explain an ethical principle to support your decision.
your answer

Explanation:

First Sub - Question: How is Hospice Care different from Palliative Care?

Hospice care is for patients with a terminal illness (life expectancy < 6 months) and focuses on comfort and quality of life in the final stages, with curative treatment stopped. Palliative care can be given at any stage of a serious illness, alongside curative treatment, to relieve symptoms and improve well - being.

Withdrawing treatment (e.g., stopping a ventilator) is allowing a patient to die from their underlying illness, with the intention of relieving the burden of futile treatment. Euthanasia (active or passive) involves intentionally ending a patient's life to relieve suffering. Ethically, withdrawing treatment respects the natural course of the illness, while euthanasia is seen by many as directly causing death.

The patient should not be given the feeding tube. The ethical principle of autonomy (respecting a patient's right to make their own decisions) applies here. The patient understands the consequences of refusing the feeding tube, so their decision should be respected, even if they may forget it later.

Answer:

Hospice care is for terminally ill patients (life expectancy < 6 months) with curative treatment stopped, focusing on end - of - life comfort. Palliative care can be provided at any serious illness stage, along with curative treatment, to manage symptoms and enhance well - being.

Second Sub - Question: Explain ONE ethical difference between withdrawing treatment and euthanasia