Legal Definitions - life-sustaining procedure

LIFE-SUSTAINING PROCEDURE

A life-sustaining procedure is a medical treatment that uses machines or artificial means to keep a person alive, restore a vital function, or replace it with an artificial one. The main purpose of this procedure is to delay death.

• Artificial ventilation to help a person breathe
• Feeding tubes to provide nutrition to a person who cannot eat on their own
• Dialysis to filter waste products from the blood when the kidneys fail

These examples illustrate how life-sustaining procedures can help a person survive when their body is unable to perform a vital function. They are often used in critical care situations, such as when a person is in a coma or has suffered a severe injury or illness. However, these procedures are not always successful and may only delay the inevitable. It is important for individuals to discuss their wishes regarding life-sustaining procedures with their healthcare providers and loved ones in advance.