Discussing Life-sustaining Therapy With Surrogate Decision Makers. Issue 1 (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hwang, David Y.
• Is Part Of: Continuum. Volume 23:Issue 1(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Study guides -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1212/CON.0000000000000417
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1080-2371

Abstract

Abstract : ABSTRACT: Clinicians caring for patients with severe stroke in intensive care units often grapple with requests from surrogate decision makers for life-prolonging treatment that members of the care team may believe to be futile. An example is a surrogate decision maker's request to place a tracheostomy and feeding tube in a patient who, in the clinical judgment of the neurocritical care team, is very unlikely to recover interactive capacity. This article presents a case, discusses definitions of medical futility, and summarizes recommended steps for mediating conflict regarding potentially inappropriate treatment.