The Distinction between Ordinary and Extraordinary Treatment: Can It Be Maintained?

Abstract

The distinction between ordinary and extraordinary treatment has a long history. Since it was first proposed and discussed in the medieval period, it has formed part of medical ethics, even as that discourse, and the landscape it comments on, has radically changed and developed. In this essay we briefly canvas the history of the debate on ordinary/extraordinary treatment and consider its relevance for professional medical practice in the present context. Show more