ABSTRACT
In March 1998 a government commission issued a Patients' Bill of Rights aimed at protecting patient and insuring improvement in the quality of his/her care. Doctors welcome a patient who asks questions, because it shows them that their patient is taking an active part in the treatment plan. Most doctors will welcome patient’s active participation in making decisions for his/her treatment or refusal for aggressive therapy, even if that happens to be patient’s final decision. The policy of "do not resuscitate" orders for selected terminally ill patients admitted to hospital or nursing homes is accepted, and patients are routinely asked whether or not they want to sign a form upon admission to the facility. If there are no written orders signed by a physician, all medical personnel are required to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation whenever the patient's heart stops beating. In a hospital setting, when cardiac arrest occurs, the patient will be connected to a ventilator for artificial breathing.
