In end-of-life ethics, which statement correctly describes ordinary means?

• A. Disproportionate burdens
• B. Proportionate, reasonable treatments
• C. Non-beneficial interventions
• D. Interventions beyond standard of care

Answer: (B)

In end-of-life ethics, ordinary means are the treatments that are proportionate to the patient’s situation and have a reasonable chance of benefit without imposing excessive burdens. This balance—not futile and not exceeding what is reasonably needed to preserve life or health—is why the best description is “proportionate, reasonable treatments.” The other ideas point to interventions that are not ordinary: burdens that are disproportionate signal something beyond ordinary care; non-beneficial interventions are futile; and interventions beyond standard of care fall outside what counts as ordinary.