A REVIEW ON DECISION PROTOCOL AND FATWA IN MALAYSIA DISCUSSING ISSUE OF WITHHOLDING AND WITHDRAWAL OF LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Abstract

Withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments is one of the hot topics discussing in intensive care unit as most of the death occurs as a result of it. This point of transition from active intervention to the palliation process required a crucial decision-making process. The decision conveys information to families to be well prepared beforehand especially during the process of withdrawing life-sustaining treatment. Once the final decision to withdraw the treatment has been made, procedure of cessation of care, treatment withdrawal and nature of follow-up support will be informed to the family members. This article aims to explore the relationship between decision in withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment based on Malaysian intensive care unit protocol and the related fatwa in Malaysia. The methodology chosen for this study is content analysis of the relevant published literatures. This study reveals the decision for withholding and withdrawal life sustaining treatment in intensive care unit has correlation between the protocol and related fatwa in Malaysia.