An elderly patient with progressive Parkinson's disease comes to see you because of fever, cough, shortness of breath, and sputum production consistent with pneumonia. The patient's Parkinson's disease has been worsening and he has become quite depressed. He has insomnia, early morning waking, and weight loss as well as anhedonia. He is refusing antibiotics and is asking for palliative care only to help him die.
What should you do?
a. Psychiatric evaluation.
b. Sedate the patient.
c. Comply with the patient's wishes.
d. Seek the opinion of the family.
e. Refer to the ethics committee.
f. Comply with the patient's wishes as long as he is DNR.