<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<p>Despite the impressive developments in modern medicine, the healthcare system is still associated with human death. Medicine has made great strides in the treatment of many diseases. The procedures are particularly advanced in, e.g., cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, and other fields. </p>
<p>However, despite these efforts, not all patients are cured, and the use of aggressive treatment often contributes to their suffering. This does not mean that patients should be left unattended at the end of their lives.. Palliative medicine deals with patients coming to the end of their lives, concentrating on alleviating suffering and improving quality of life. It is a medical speciality focused on a wide range of interventions, including symptom management, communication, and psychosocial and spiritual support for patients. Patients undergoing highly qualified procedures, for whom causal treatment is not possible, should have the right to such care before death. However, according to medical practice and national legal regulations, it is not always possible to provide this care, despite the anticipated death. This article presents the legal and medical aspects of the end of life from the point of view of the European and Polish healthcare systems.</p>
</abstract>

Despite the impressive developments in modern medicine, the healthcare system is still associated with human death. Medicine has made great strides in the treatment of many diseases. The procedures are particularly advanced in, e.g., cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, and other fields. 
However, despite these efforts, not all patients are cured, and the use of aggressive treatment often contributes to their suffering. This does not mean that patients should be left unattended at the end of their lives.. Palliative medicine deals with patients coming to the end of their lives, concentrating on alleviating suffering and improving quality of life. It is a medical speciality focused on a wide range of interventions, including symptom management, communication, and psychosocial and spiritual support for patients. Patients undergoing highly qualified procedures, for whom causal treatment is not possible, should have the right to such care before death. However, according to medical practice and national legal regulations, it is not always possible to provide this care, despite the anticipated death. This article presents the legal and medical aspects of the end of life from the point of view of the European and Polish healthcare systems.

Legal and Medical Aspects of the End of Human Life from the Perspective of Palliative Medicine Related to Cardiac Surgery

Białostockie Studia Prawnicze

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Despite the impressive developments in modern medicine, the healthcare system is still associated with human death. Medicine has made great strides in the...

Legal and Medical Aspects of the End of Human Life from the Perspective of Palliative Medicine Related to Cardiac Surgery

Publié en ligne: 28 sept. 2023

Pages: 53 - 70

Reçu: 03 janv. 2023

Accepté: 15 juin 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15290/bsp.2023.28.03.03

Mots clés
cardiac surgery, end of life, palliative medicine

© 2023 Piotr Jakubów et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Legal and Medical Aspects of the End of Human Life from the Perspective of Palliative Medicine Related to Cardiac Surgery

Publié en ligne: 28 sept. 2023

Pages: 53 - 70

Reçu: 03 janv. 2023

Accepté: 15 juin 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15290/bsp.2023.28.03.03

Mots cléscardiac surgery, end of life, palliative medicine

© 2023 Piotr Jakubów et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
cardiac surgery, end of life, palliative medicine