By Ryan Pferdehirt, D.Bioethics, HEC-C

June 2020

Quality of Life Bioethics Case Study

The patient is a 45-year-old male with chronic cardiac issues. If the current standard continues, the patient is not expected to live past the next five years. It is recommended that the patient undergo a surgical procedure that will add several years to his life expectancy.

The patient is an avid outdoorsman and was told that he would have to limit his outdoorsmanship after the procedure. Patient declines the surgery stating that being outdoors and active defines his quality of life. He would rather die in five years than live fifty not doing so.

An ethics consult is requested.