The Israeli "Terminally Ill Patient Law": Medical Ethics and the End of Life
In 2005 a law was passed in Israel regulating the treatment of dying patients. Its most controversial aspect was the distinction it makes between withholding therapy (which it allows) and withdrawing continuous therapy (which it does not allow). Prof. Charles Sprung, director of the ICU at Hadassah Medical Center, helped write this law. Here he talks about how the law came to be and how it attempted to satisfy Jewish law (halachah).
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Prof. Charles Sprung is leading Professor of Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Director of General Intensive Care Unit at Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Centre and Director of Institute of Medicine, Ethics and Law at Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center.
He is also Fellow of American College of Critical Care Medicine and author of numerous academic publications.
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