'Quality of life'

Are we, then, back with the question of judging if the patient's life will be worthwhile? We need to distinguish here between two very different views of life which the term 'quality of life' can be used to describe. According to the first view, the patient's life in certain conditions has no 'quality' or value (and should, perhaps, be brought to a close). Whatever is thought to give a life value - perhaps some form of positive mental experience - will be altogether lacking in some patients. According to the second view, in contrast, the patient's life will always have some objective value, even if it does not always have enough value to justify certain interventions. 'Quality of life' is used, in this context, to refer to the value of the patient's 'well-being', while acknowledging the value of his or her 'being' or existing per se.