Which statement about withholding and withdrawing artificial life support is true?

• A. It constitutes PAS
• B. It is ethical and legal but does not constitute PAS
• C. It is illegal
• D. It requires patient consent to withhold care

Answer: (B)

Respecting patient autonomy at the end of life and recognizing when treatment is no longer beneficial is the main idea here. Withholding and withdrawing artificial life support are ethically permissible and legal in many settings when continuing treatment would be non-beneficial or burdensome and would not align with the patient’s goals. Importantly, this practice is not PAS because the aim is to honor the patient’s wishes and avoid futile care, not to actively cause death; the physician’s intent is to stop non-beneficial treatment, allowing natural progression of illness to occur. Laws and professional guidelines support this distinction, though specifics can vary by jurisdiction. If the patient cannot participate, decisions are guided by advance directives or a surrogate decision-maker, so requiring direct patient consent in every case is not accurate.