There is no medical or ethical distinction between withholding and withdrawing treatment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

From a medical and ethical standpoint, withholding and withdrawing treatment are equivalent actions. Both involve a decision to limit or cease medical interventions, and the ethical considerations in each case are largely the same. The primary difference between the two lies in the timing of the decision: withholding treatment involves a decision not to initiate a particular intervention, while withdrawing treatment involves a decision to discontinue an intervention that is already in progress. However, the ethical implications of both actions are similar, as both involve a decision to allow nature to take its course rather than using medical interventions to prolong life.

There Is No Medical or Ethical Distinction Between Withholding and Withdrawing