Withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment — formative SAQs

SAQ 1 (10)

A six-month-old infant with severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy remains ventilator-dependent after a catastrophic out-of-hospital arrest. The intensive-care team judges that continued invasive support is not in the child's best interests; the parents ask that "everything be done". ^{[1] [2]}

a) Define the core problem in one sentence and state the governing ethical standard. (3 marks) ^[1]

b) Outline the classification axes you would use and why they change management. (3 marks) ^{[1] [2]}

c) List the red flags that would force senior, ethics or court escalation. (2 marks) ^[1]

d) Document the key elements you would write in the clinical record after the family meeting. (2 marks) ^[2]