Episode description

As medicine becomes more sophisticated, discussions about clinical ethics become more common. It is now possible to support life in dire clinical circumstances, but physicians are not always sure if this is the right thing to do. There are questions about quality of life and best interests of the patient, questions about cognitive competence to make such decisions for oneself or questions about equitable distribution of limited resources.

This episode was recorded at the RACP Congress in May and centres around two case studies. The first describes a three-year-old boy with a severe neurodegenerative disorder whose parents are desperate to try an expensive experimental drug. The second is about a man ravaged by bowel cancer who has spent months on life-sustaining care. You'll hear a variety of physicians express their views, and members of the College Ethics Committee describe how clinical ethics services can support decision-making in such cases.

Panellists
Professor David Isaacs FRACP (Children's Hospital Westmead, University of Sydney)
Professor Ian Kerridge FRACP (Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney Health Ethics)
Professor Paul Komesaroff FRACP (Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Centre for Ethics in Medicine and Society)
Associate Professor Jill Sewell FRACP (Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Children's Bioethics Centre, University of Melbourne)
Dr Linda Sheahan FRACP FAChPM (St George Hospital, Sydney Health Ethics)
Professor Cameron Stewart (Sydney Law School, Sydney Health Ethics)

Production
Produced by Mic Cavazzini. Initial interview conducted by Melissah Bell. Music courtesy of Daddy Scrabble ('Tune for Elli'), Jason Shaw ('Namaste'), and Kai Engel ('Highway to the Stars'). Image via Shutterstock. The production manager was Anne Fredrickson.

Editorial feedback for this episode was provided by RACP Fellows Philippa Wormald, Andrea Knox, Rebecca Grainger, Philip Gaughwin and Rhiannon Mellor.

Please visit the RACP website for a transcript embedded with citations. Fellows of the College can claim CPD credits for listening and additional reading.