Stability of Patient Preferences Regarding Life-Sustaining Treatments

Posted by James

The unconditional use of medical interventions such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and mechanical ventilation has prompted numerous discussions about the appropriate definitions and indications for life- sustaining treatments. Decisions regarding life-sus­taining treatments are traditionally based on medical indications. However, patients increasingly desire con­sideration of their attitudes about medical therapies in health care decisions. Furthermore, patients are empowered by law to accept or refuse medical rec­ommendations, including those regarding life-sustain­ing treatments.

Previous research suggests that patient preferences are one of several factors influencing physician deci­sions to withhold or withdraw medical therapies. However, physicians often question whether patients’ attitudes change over time and in different clinical situations. Moreover, physicians are reluctant to rely on a patients preference when expressed during a serious acute illness, due to concerns about the inter­ference of disease and treatment (eg, pain and medi­cation, respectively) with the patient s decision-making process. cialis professional online

Characteristics and reliability of critically ill inten­sive care unit patients’ treatment preferences have not been previously described, and yet may help physi­cians make appropriate choices regarding the imple­mentation and continuation of life-sustaining thera­pies. We interviewed intensive care unit (ICU) patients to determine their preferences for life-sustaining treat­ments. We conducted follow-up interviews one month later to assess the changes of these preferences as health status improved.