tailieunhanh - Báo cáo khoa học: "Withdrawing and withholding life-sustaining therapies are not the same"

Tuyển tập các báo cáo nghiên cứu về y học được đăng trên tạp chí y học Critical Care giúp cho các bạn có thêm kiến thức về ngành y học đề tài: Withdrawing and withholding life-sustaining therapies are not the same. | Critical Care June 2005 Vol 9 No 3 Levin and Sprung Commentary Withdrawing and withholding life-sustaining therapies are not the same Phillip D Levin1 and Charles L Sprung2 Attending Physician Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital Jerusalem Israel 2Director General Intensive Care Unit Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital Jerusalem Israel Corresponding author Charles L Sprung sprung@ Published online 4 March 2005 This article is online at http content 9Z3 230 2005 BioMed Central Ltd Critical Care 2005 9 230-232 DOI cc3487 See related commentary by Vincent page 226 http content 9 3 226 Abstract Numerous lines of evidence support the premise that withholding and withdrawing life support measures in the intensive care unit are not the same. These include questionnaires practical observations and an examination of national medical guidelines. It is important to distinguish between the two end of life options as their outcomes and management are significantly different. Appreciation of these differences allows the provision of accurate information and facilitates decision making that is compassionate caring and adherent to the needs of the patient and their family. During rounds in the critical care unit a discussion arises regarding continued antibiotic therapy in a patient who has not responded. Should antibiotics be added should the current therapy be maintained or should the antibiotics be stopped No one would dispute that these options are different. Replacing the word antibiotics with inotropes ventilation or life support does not alter this reality. Stopping life-support measures withdrawal of therapy is not the same as refraining from starting them withholding or maintaining current therapy. The former is an active measure whereas the latter two are passive. Often patients families clearly understand this .