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Critical Care
Published in: Critical Care 3/2005

01-06-2005 | Commentary

Withdrawing and withholding life-sustaining therapies are not the same

Authors: Phillip D Levin, Charles L Sprung

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 3/2005

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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.
Literature
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Anonymous: Attitudes of critical care medicine professionals concerning forgoing life-sustaining treatments. The Society of Critical Care Medicine Ethics Committee. Crit Care Med 1992, 20: 320-326.CrossRef
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Vincent JL: Forgoing life support in western European intensive care units: the results of an ethical questionnaire. Crit Care Med 1999, 27: 1626-1633. 10.1097/00003246-199908000-00042CrossRefPubMed
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Solomon MZ, O'Donnell L, Jennings B, Guilfoy V, Wolf SM, Nolan K, Jackson R, Koch-Weser D, Donnelley S: Decisions near the end of life: professional views on life-sustaining treatments. Am J Public Health 1993, 83: 14-23.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
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Sprung CL, Cohen SL, Sjokvist P, Baras M, Bulow HH, Hovilehto S, Ledoux D, Lippert A, Maia P, Phelan D, et al.: End-of-life practices in European intensive care units: the Ethicus Study. JAMA 2003, 290: 790-797. 10.1001/jama.290.6.790CrossRefPubMed
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Vincent J-L: Withdrawing may be preferable to withholding. Crit Care 2005, in press.
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Danis M, Patrick DL, Southerland LI, Green ML: Patients' and families' preferences for medical intensive care. JAMA 1988, 260: 797-802. 10.1001/jama.260.6.797CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Withdrawing and withholding life-sustaining therapies are not the same
Authors
Phillip D Levin
Charles L Sprung
Publication date
01-06-2005
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Critical Care / Issue 3/2005
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/cc3487

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