Publication at Faculty of Law |
2019
Abstract
In the Czech Republic, public debates regarding end-of-life decisions have only recently started. With no explicit legislative recognition of medical futility, clinical practice relies predominantly on a vague statutory definition of proper care and two non-binding guidelines, aimed however at adult patients.
The situation in paediatrics is further complicated by the complex and often ambiguous legal regulation related to the process of decision making. In her contribution, the author introduces the Czech legal framework and clinical practice, including a new document prepared by the Paediatric Palliative Care Working Group on providing life-sustaining care, which would apply in cases similar to those of Charlie Gard and Alfie Evans.