Ethical and Economic Issues in terminal Health Care

Terminal care requires an active and compassionate approach that treats, comforts and supports individuals, living with or dying with progressive life threatening conditions. Such care has to be sensitive to the personal, cultural and spiritual values, religious beliefs and practices of an individual and the community he/she belongs to. There is an urgent need to address ethical and economic issues and to bring appropriate legislation to better manage end-of-life care in our country. Ethical dilemma in terminal health care has been a matter of great debate in recent times. It has to be emphasized that withdrawing or withholding life prolonging treatment, has to be differentiated from euthanasia. Euthanasia implies ending life in certain terminal and often painful and distressing situations.