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WINNIPEG, June 18, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a new development in the case of Samuel Golubchuk, three doctors in Winnipeg have agreed to treat the 84-year-old man after several of their colleagues refused to do so.
Yesterday LifeSiteNews.com reported that two doctors - ICU director Bojan Paunovic and specialist David Easton - had refused shifts at Winnipeg's Grace Hospital's rather than treat Golubchuk, claiming that it was unethical to continue providing food and hydration to the severely disabled man. This is in addition to the resignation of Dr. Anand Kumar, the doctor who originally wanted to remove Golubchuk from food and hydration last fall.
Dr. Kumar said he withdrew his services because it is "in violation of my medical ethics to continue (treating Golubchuk)." He also said he believes that the "services administered in accordance with the court order are not of any medical benefit," and in fact cause harm to Golubchuk because they are uncomfortable and painful.
Golubchuk's family, however, is continuing to fight for the 84-year-old man's life, arguing that, contrary to media reports, he is not in a vegetative state and that he is only receiving the most basic care of artificial nutrition and hydration. His family says that euthanasia is against Golubchuk's Orthodox Jewish beliefs.
Heidi Graham, spokeswoman for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, announced this morning that three doctors from the regional critical-care program, who do not normally have shifts at Grace Hospital, have come forward and agreed to provide care for Golubchuk.
"Our regional critical care program and hospital have developed a plan that involves having one attending physician of record for the patient in question," Graham told CBC News.
"This physician will be supported by two other physicians. These three physicians have already agreed to this, and this situation will allow the other physicians in the Grace intensive care unit to continue with their scheduled rotations if they so desire."
The names of the additional doctors brought onto the intensive care rotation have not been released.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Doctors Refuse to Work at Hospital Unless they are Allowed to Deny Treatment to Patient
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08061711.html
Doctor Claims Efforts to Keep Disabled , Still Responsive Man Alive "Grotesque" and "an Abomination"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08060411.html
Samuel Golubchuk to Remain On Life Support While Trial Date Is Set
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/mar/08031806.html Action Call to Save Samuel Golubchuk
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/feb/08021108.html
Winnipeg Doctors Offer To Treat Patient Golubchuk After Colleagues Refuse
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Vancouver -- As a medical ethicist who works with medical students, and in medical situations, I teach that the idea of patient choice is paramount. The case of Samuel Golubchuk (Two More Doctors Resign Over Life-Support Order - June 18) makes a mockery of that principle. If the doctors' actions go unchallenged, it will amount to saying that patients and their families are free to choose - as long as they choose what a physician approves. That, alas, is no choice at all.
Certainly, there are bounds to patient choice, but those bounds are typically limited to actions causing real and long-term harm. This case, in which the dying patient's family seeks his continuance, does not appear to rise to that standard.
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