Definitions
- Terminal Condition
- Right to Die
- Suffer or Suffering
- Palliative Care of Comfort Care
- Euthansia
- Physician Assisted Suicide
- Advance Directive
- Living Will
- Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
- Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 449.626(2)
Terminal Condition
An incurable and irreversible condition that, without the administration of
life-sustaining treatment, will, in the opinion of the attending physician,
result in death within a relatively short time.
As per Nevada Revised Statutes 449.590
Right to Die
Cases and statutes which recognize in some instances the right of a dying person
to decline extraordinary treatment and the right of such a person's guardian
to ask the court to substitute its judgment for that of the dying person
who no longer has the mental capacity to make such judgment.
As per Black's Law Dictionary
Suffer or Suffering
To submit to or be forced to endure, allow, tolerate; to endure death, pain
or distress handicap. The state or experience of one that suffers.
As per Webster's Dictionary
Palliative Care or Comfort Care
Care directed toward the quality of life of patients who are dying, including
the relief of pain and other symptoms, attention to the psychological and
spiritual needs of the patient, and providing support for the dying patient
and the patient's family.
As per American Medical Association.
Euthanasia
The direct administration of a lethal agent with the intent to hasten death.
As per American Medical Association
Physician Assisted Suicide
The provision of the means or information to kill oneself where the intent
in providing the information is to aid the patient in committing a suicidal
act.
As per American Medical Association
Advance Directive
A patient-generated document specifying your desire regarding your future medical
treatment under certain specified conditions. There are two types of Advance
Directives. The first is the Living Will and the second is Durable
Power of Attorney for Health Care .
Living Will
For a patient to express his healthcare choices ahead of time regarding whether
he wants life-sustaining treatment to begin or to continue if he is unable
to communicate his wishes. This document goes into effect only when you
are not longer able to communicate with healthcare providers and are determined
by the doctor to have an incurable, irreversible condition.
Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
To allow a patient to appoint a person or persons to make healthcare decisions
for him if he is unable to do so for any reason.
The Nevada Revised Statute 449.626(2) prioritizes the order of authority in the event a written directive does not exist as follows:
- The spouse of the patient;
- An adult child of the patient or, if there is more than one child, a majority of the adult children who are reasonably available for consultation;
- The parents of the patient;
- An adult sibling of the patient or, if there is more than one adult sibling, a majority of the adult siblings who are reasonably available for consultation; or
- The nearest other adult relative of the patient by blood or adoption who is reasonably available for consultation.