As science and technology continue to improve health care, our ability to prolong life increases. This can create an ethical and moral dilemma in cases when a patient faces a terminal disease. In these instances, health care providers often face a conflict of duty. There is an expectation to sustain life and relieve suffering. Conflict occurs when a patient and/or family member needs to decide whether extraordinary measures should be taken to prolong a life.

1. Define extraordinary measures. Provide an example of a situation in which extraordinary measures are used.
2. How does the use of extraordinary measures fit with a health care provider's code of ethics?

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Defining Extraordinary Measures Extraordinary measures refer to medical interventions or treatments that go beyond the standard or routine care provid... View the full answer