Position statement of the Brazilian Palliative Care Academy on withdrawing and withholding life-sustaining interventions in the context of palliative care.

The issue of withrawing and withholding life-sustaining interventions is an important source of controversy among healthcare professionals caring for patients with serious illnesses. Misguided decisions, both in terms of the introduction/maintenance and the withdrawal/withholding of these measures, represent a source of avoidable suffering for patients, their loved ones, and healthcare professionals. This document represents the position statement of the Bioethics Committee of the Brazilian Palliative Care Academy on this issue and establishes seven principles to guide, from a bioethical perspective, the approach to situations related to this topic in the context of palliative care in Brazil. The position statement establishes the equivalence between the withdrawal and withholding of life-sustaining interventions and the inadequacy related to initiating or maintaining such measures in contexts where they are in disagreement with the values and care goals defined together with patients and their families. Additionally, the position statement distinguishes strictly futile treatments from potentially inappropriate treatments and elucidates their critical implications for the appropriateness of the medical decision-making process in this context. Finally, we address the issue of conscientious objection and its limits, determine that the ethical commitment to the relief of suffering should not be influenced by the decision to employ or not employ life-sustaining interventions and warn against the use of language that causes patients/families to believe that only one of the available options related to the use or nonuse of these interventions will enable the relief of suffering.

Organ Support After Death by Neurologic Criteria in Pediatric Patients.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to 1) evaluate how pediatricians approach situations in which families request continuation of organ support after declaration of death by neurologic criteria and 2) explore potential interventions to make these situations less challenging. DESIGN: A survey on management and personal experience with death by neurologic criteria was distributed electronically to pediatric intensivists and neurologists. We compared responses from individuals who practice in states with accommodation exceptions (accommodation states where religious or moral beliefs must be taken into consideration when declaring death: California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York) to those from non-accommodation states. SETTING: United States. SUBJECTS: The survey was opened by 254 recipients, with 186 meeting inclusion criteria and providing data about the region in which they practice; of these, 26% were from accommodation states. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: More than half of physicians (61% from both accommodation states and non-accommodation states) reported they cared for a pediatric patient whose family requested continuation of organ support after declaration of death by neurologic criteria (outside of organ donation; range, 1-17 times). Over half of physicians (53%) reported they would not feel comfortable handling a situation in which a pediatric patient's family requested care be continued after declaration of death by neurologic criteria. Nearly every physician (98%) endorsed that something needs to be done to make situations involving families who object to discontinuation of organ support after declaration of death by neurologic criteria easier to handle. Respondents felt that public education, physician education, and uniform state laws about these situations are warranted. CONCLUSIONS: It is relatively common for pediatricians who care for critically ill patients to encounter families who object to discontinuation of organ support after death by neurologic criteria. Management of these situations is challenging, and guidance for medical professionals and the public is needed.

Decision-Making on Withholding or Withdrawing Life Support in the ICU: A Worldwide Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Many critically ill patients who die will do so after a decision has been made to withhold/withdraw life-sustaining therapy. The objective of this study was to document the characteristics of ICU patients with a decision to withhold/withdraw life-sustaining treatment, including the types of supportive treatments used, patterns of organ dysfunction, and international differences, including gross national income (GNI). METHODS: In this observational cohort study conducted in 730 ICUs in 84 countries, all adult patients admitted between May 8, 2012, and May 18, 2012 (except admissions for routine postoperative surveillance), were included. RESULTS: The analysis included 9,524 patients, with a hospital mortality of 24%. A decision to withhold/withdraw life-sustaining treatment was reported during the ICU stay in 1,259 patients (13%), including 820 (40%) nonsurvivors and 439 (5%) survivors. Hospital mortality in patients with a decision to withhold/withdraw life-sustaining treatment was 69%. The proportion of deaths in patients with a decision to withhold/withdraw life-sustaining treatment ranged from 10% in South Asia to 67% in Oceania. Decisions to withhold/withdraw life-sustaining treatment were less frequent in low/lower-middle GNI countries than in high GNI countries (6% vs 14%; P < .001). Greater disease severity, presence of ≥ 2 organ failures, severe comorbidities, medical and trauma admissions, and admission from the ED or hospital floor were independent predictors of a decision to withhold/withdraw life-sustaining treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There is considerable worldwide variability in decisions to withhold/withdraw life-sustaining treatments. Interestingly, almost one-third of patients with a decision to withhold/withdraw life-sustaining treatment left the hospital alive.

Ortotanásia e distanásia: percepção dos profissionais de saúde de uma unidade de terapia intensiva / Ortotanasia y distanasia: percepción de los profesionales de salud de una unidad de cuidados intensivos / Orthothanasia and dysthanasia: perception of health professionals of an intensive care unit

RESUMO Pesquisa que envolve o processo de morte, abordando a distanásia, a qual se constitui na obstinação terapêutica a fim de adiar a morte, e a Ortotanásia, que se constitui na morte em seu processo natural, sem prolongar o tratamento. Teve como objetivo reconhecer a percepção dos profissionais da equipe de saúde que atuam em unidade de terapia intensiva, acerca das situações de Ortotanásia e Distanásia. Realizado em um hospital universitário. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas com 25 profissionais de saúde e submetidos à análise de conteúdo temática. Emergiram três categorias relacionadas: Apreendendo a Ortotanásia e a Distanásia; Percebendo o contexto da tomada de decisão; Ponderando a Ortotanásia e a Distanásia na finitude da vida. A percepção dos profissionais de saúde referente à Ortotanásia e à Distanásia exige discussões referentes aos conceitos éticos que envolvem as intervenções no processo de morte, possibilitando um embasamento da equipe multiprofissional, familiares e pacientes na tomada de decisão no final da vida.

RESUMEN Investigación que implica el proceso de muerte, tratando la distanasia, que constituye en la obstinación terapéutica a fin de aplazar la muerte, y la Ortotanasia, que constituye en la muerte en su proceso natural, sin prolongar el tratamiento. Tuvo como objetivo reconocer la percepción de los profesionales del equipo de salud que actúan en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, acerca de las situaciones de Ortotanasia y Distanasia. Realizado en un hospital universitario. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas con 25 profesionales de salud y sometidos al análisis de contenido temático. Surgieron tres categorías relacionadas: Comprendiendo la Ortotanasia y la Distanasia; Percibiendo el contexto de la toma de decisión; Ponderando la Ortotanasia y la Distanasia en la finitud de la vida. La percepción de los profesionales de salud referente a la Ortotanasia y a la Distanasia exige discusiones sobre los conceptos éticos que comprenden las intervenciones en el proceso de muerte, posibilitando una base del equipo multiprofesional, familiares y pacientes en la toma de decisión en el final de la vida.

ABSTRACT Research involving the process of death regarding dysthanasia, which is defined as therapeutic obstinacy practiced with the aim to postpone death, and Orthothanasia, which is death in its natural process, without further treatment. The study aimed to recognize the perception that professionals of the health team working in an intensive care unit have about situations of Orthothanasia and Dysthanasia. The study was conducted in a university hospital. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 health professionals and submitted to thematic content analysis. Three related categories emerged: Seizing Orthothanasia and Dysthanasia; Realizing the decision-making context; Pondering Orthothanasia and Dysthanasia in the finitude of life. The perception of health professionals regarding Orthothanasia and Dysthanasia requires discussions that consider the ethical concepts involved in interventions adopted in the process of death in order to provide basis to the multidisciplinary team, family and patients in decision making at the end of life.

Valoración ética de la craneoplastia con vendaje compresivo como forma de limitación de tratamientos de soporte vital / Valoração ética da cranioplastia com curativo compressivo como forma de limitação de tratamentos de suporte vital / Ethical value of cranioplasty with oppressive binder as a way of limiting life support treatments

Este artículo analiza, desde una postura crítica, la utilización de la craneoplastia de compresión con vendaje como método de limitación de tratamiento de soporte vital (LTSV). Con esta técnica activa, algunos autores han propuesto provocar la muerte encefálica, posibilitando la donación de órganos. Al contrastar este procedimiento con las recomendaciones del documento de consenso sobre el tratamiento al final de la vida del paciente crítico, elaborado por el grupo de bioética de la SEMICYUC, se comprueba que los medios y fines de esta técnica no encajan con las actuaciones propias de la LTSV, que se basan en la retirada de medios de soporte vital o en su no inicio, al considerar dichos medios desproporcionados o extraordinarios en algunos casos, evitando así la obstinación terapéutica. La definición de LTSV permite clarificar los límites en los que, de un modo éticamente correcto y consensuado, las actuaciones al final de la vida se circunscriben a los fines de la medicina, evitando la sospecha de que dichas actuaciones puedan ser malinterpretadas como justificación para una obtención de órganos abusiva. El artículo concluye que la provocación directa de la muerte encefálica mediante la técnica de craneoplastia con vendaje no parece cumplir los criterios propios de la LTSV.

This article analyzes, from a critical perspective, the use of cranioplasty with oppressive binder as a method to limit life support treatment (LLST). Some authors have proposed that this active technique provokes encephalic death, allowing organ donation. Contrasting this procedure with the recommendations of the consent document about treatment of critical patients at the end of life, elaborated by the bioethics group of SEMICYUC, it is shown that the means and ends of this technique do not match with the proper actions of LLST, based on the withdrawal of life support means or in not starting them, considering such means disproportionate or extraordinary in some cases, thus avoiding the therapeutic obstinacy. The definition of LLST allows to clarify the limits in which, in a way ethically fair and with a consensus, the acts at the end of life are included in the medical goals, avoiding the suspicion that these acts may be misinterpreted as justifying an abusive extraction of organs. This article concludes that the direct provocation of encephalic death by the technique of cranioplasty with binder does not appear to fulfill the criteria proper of LLST.

Este artigo analisa, a partir de uma postura crítica, a utilização da cranioplastia de compressão com curativo como método de limitação de tratamento de suporte vital (LTSV). Com esta técnica ativa, alguns autores têm proposto provocar a morte encefálica, possibilitando a doação de órgãos. Ao contrastar este procedimento com as recomendações do documento de consenso sobre o tratamento do final de vida do paciente crítico, elaborado pelo grupo de bioética da SEMICYUC, se comprova que os meios e fins desta técnica não encaixam com as atuações próprias da LTSV, que se baseiam na retirada de meios de suporte vital ou em seu não início, ao considerar os ditos meios desproporcionados ou extraordinários em alguns casos, evitando assim a obstinação terapêutica. A definição de LTSV permite esclarecer os limites nos quais, de um modo eticamente correto e aceito, as atuações ao final da vida se circunscrevem às finalidades da medicina, evitando a suspeita de que ditas atuações podem ser mal interpretadas como justificativa para uma obtenção de órgãos abusiva. O artigo conclui que a provocação direta da morte encefálica mediante a técnica da cranioplastia com curativo não parece cumprir os critérios próprios da LTSV.

Análisis de los aspectos bioéticos en los programas de donación en asistolia controlada / Análise dos aspectos bioéticos nos programas de doação em assistolia controlada / Analysis of bioethical issues related to organ donation in controlled asystole programs

El trasplante de órganos sólidos constituye el tratamiento de un gran número de enfermedades en fase terminal, mejora globalmente la supervivencia y la calidad de vida de los pacientes sometidos a este tipo de intervención y es considerado como un beneficioso progreso de la medicina para el conjunto de la sociedad. En las últimas décadas, y debido al estancamiento en la cantidad de donaciones y al aumento progresivo de las listas de espera, se han desarrollado diferentes acciones con el objetivo de ampliar el número potencial de donantes, reconsiderando nuevamente aquellos procedentes de parada cardiocirculatoria (donantes en asistolia). El objetivo de este trabajo consiste en reflexionar sobre la legitimidad de compaginar en un mismo proceso dos complejas decisiones éticas: la retirada de las técnicas de soporte vital (RTSV) y limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico (LET), y la posibilidad de considerar a estos pacientes como donantes de órganos. Con este propósito, analizaremos los problemas éticos que se plantean a cada paso en la toma de decisión y en las actuaciones en los programas en asistolia controlada, según el criterio de donantes tipo III adoptado en la conferencia de Maastricht de 1995, como fundamento para establecer un juicio ético de todo el proceso.

Solid organs trasplant constitutes a treatment for many diseases in terminal phase. Patients subjected to this type of intervention enhance survival and quality of life in general and it is considered a beneficial progress in medicine for society. In the last decades and due to the stagnation of donations and the progressive increase of waiting lists, some actions have been developed with the goal to widen the potential number of donors, reconsidering again those coming from cardiovascular arrest (asystole donors). The aim of this article consists in reflecting on the legitimacy of combining in the same process two complex ethical decisions: the withdrawal of life support techniques (WLST) and the limitation of therapeutic effort (LTE), and the possibility of considering these patients as organ donors. With this purpose, we will analyze the ethical problems involved in each step in decision making and on the actions taken by controlled asystole programs, according to the criteria of type III donors of Masstricht conference, 1995, as base to establish an ethical judgment for the process.

O transplante de órgãos sólidos constitui o tratamento de um grande número de enfermidades em fase terminal, melhora globalmente a sobrevivência e a qualidade de vida dos pacientes submetidos a este tipo de intervenção e é considerado como um beneficente progresso da medicina para o conjunto da sociedade. Nas últimas décadas, e devido ao estancamento na quantidade de doações e ao aumento progressivo das listas de espera, desenvolveram-se diferentes ações com o objetivo de ampliar o número potencial de doadores, reconsiderando novamente aqueles procedentes de parada cardiocirculatória (doadores em assistolia). O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em refletir sobre a legitimidade de compaginar num mesmo processo duas complexas decisões éticas: a retirada das técnicas de suporte vital (RTSV) e limitação do esforço terapêutico (LET), e a possibilidade de considerar estes pacientes como doadores de órgãos. Com este propósito, analisaremos os problemas éticos que se apresentam a cada passo na tomada de decisão e nas atuações nos programas em assistolia controlada, segundo o critério de doadores tipo III adotado na conferência de Maastricht de 1995, como fundamento para estabelecer um juízo ético de todo o processo.

Implicancias éticas en el manejo del niño gravemente enfermo atendido en una Unidad de Paciente Crítico Pediátrica / Implicações éticas no manejo da criança gravemente enferma atendida na Unidade Pediátrica de Paciente Crítico / Ethical implications in management of gravely ill children attended in a Pediatric Patient Critical Unit

Objetivos: Identificar el manejo clínico actual del niño gravemente enfermo atendido en una Unidad de Paciente Crítico Pediátrica (UPCP), analizar las implicancias éticas del manejo y proponer estrategias para el manejo desde una perspectiva bioética. Métodos: Revisión bibliográfica en las bases de datos Medline/Pubmed, Lilacs, ProQuest, Cinhal y SciELO, entre abril y julio de 2012. Para el análisis fueron seleccionados 29 artículos que cumplían con los criterios de inclusión. Resultados: Los avances en la medicina y la incapacidad para reconocer y comprender la muerte como algo natural hacen cada vez más difícil establecer el límite entre un tratamiento proporcionado y uno desproporcionado. Con el afán de otorgar un marco moral y facilitador para la toma de decisiones, la bioética -y en particular la teoría principalista- pone a disposición del equipo de salud cuatro principios reguladores del ejercicio profesional: autonomía, no-maleficencia, beneficencia, y justicia. El correcto equilibrio entre ellos permitirá otorgar cuidados basados en una ética responsable. Conclusión: El manejo del niño gravemente enfermo atendido en una UPCP requiere de un cambio en la cultura de las organizaciones de salud, en la que se conciba la muerte como algo natural, se reconozca la importancia de una toma de decisión discutida y argumentada, considerando a todas las partes involucradas, incluyendo a los profesionales de enfermería en el proceso, y que exista la posibilidad de recurrir a un Comité de Ética Asistencial -competente, interdisciplinario y permanente- cuando el equipo de salud no llegue a un acuerdo.

Aims: To identify the current clinical management of children gravely ill attended in a Pediatric Patient Critical Unit (PPCU), to analyze the ethical implication of management and to propose strategies for the management from a bioethical perspective. Methods: Bibliography revision using data base Medline/Pubmed, Lilacs, ProQuest, Cinhal and SCIELO between April and July 2012. For analysis, 29 articles were selected that fulfilled inclusion criteria. Results: Medical advances and the incapacity to recognize and understand death as something natural increasingly make more difficult to establish the limit between a proportionate and disproportionate treatment. With the eagerness of finding a moral framework to facilitate decision making, bioethics -and particularly principle based theory- provides for health care team four principles regulating professional exercise: autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice. The correct balance among them will allow to provide basic care with responsible ethics. Conclusion: The management of gravely ill children attended at PPCU requires a change in the culture of health care organizations, in which death be viewed as something natural, the importance of decision making after arguing and dialoguing be recognized, considering all stakeholders involved, including nurse professionals in the process, and that it will be possible to recur to a health care ethical committee -competent, interdisciplinary and permanent- when health care team does not arrive to an agreement.

Objetivos: Identificar o manejo clínico atual da criança gravemente enferma atendida numa Unidade Pediátrica de Paciente Crítico (UPCP), analisar as implicações éticas do manejo e propor estratégias para o manejo a partir de uma perspectiva bioética. Métodos: Revisão bibliográfica nas bases de dados Medline/Pubmed, Lilacs, ProQuest, Cinhal y SciELO, entre abril e julho de 2012. Para a análise foram selecionados 29 artigos que satisfaziam os critérios de inclusão. Resultados: os avanços na medicina e a incapacidade para reconhecer e compreender a morte como algo natural tornam cada vez mais difícil estabelecer o limite entre um tratamento proporcional e um desproporcional. Com o desejo de outorgar um marco moral e facilitador para a tomada de decisões, a bioética - em particular a teoria principialista - põe à disposição da equipe de saúde quatro princípios reguladores do exercício profissional: autonomia, não-maleficência, beneficência, e justiça. O correto equilíbrio entre eles permitirá proporcionar cuidados baseados numa ética responsável. Conclusão: O manejo da criança gravemente enferma atendida numa UPCP requer uma mudança na cultura das organizações de saúde, na qual se admita a morte como algo natural, se reconheça a importância de uma tomada de decisão discutida e argumentada, considerando todas as partes envolvidas, incluindo os profissionais de enfermagem no processo, e que exista a possibilidade de recorrer a um Comitê de Ética Assistencial - competente, interdisciplinar e permanente - quando a equipe de saúde não chegue a um acordo.

[Intensive care. The means and the ends]. / Terapia intensiva. El problema de los medios y los fines.

Medical technology applied to acute and severely ill patients allowed for the emergence of a differentiated area of care and the development of intensive care units. The means available to replace or assist vital organs' functions determined this crucial advance of high technology medicine in the last forty years. However, actual application of these methods in this case, life-sustaining therapy is not free from the technological imperative influencing all our contemporary culture. This pervasive influence adversely affects the chances to permanently remember the ends of medicine, which are not to avoid death or to consider life as the supreme value irrespectively of the patients' preferences. Final decisions in irreversible situations, where only a life in vegetative condition is possible, are to be taken by doctors and family members.

Argumentação dos intensivistas pediátricos da cidade do Rio de Janeiro sobre limitação do suporte de vida: umaanálise bioética / Argument of the pediatric intensive city of Rio de Janeiro on limitation of life support: a bioethical analysis

A limitação do suporte de vida, processo no qual o médico retira ou não oferece terapias que não alterariam o desfecho final de uma situação clínica terminal, é defendida como uma maneira de se evitar processos de mortes prolongados e dolorosos e, desta forma, combater o uso indiscriminado da tecnologia no âmbito da Terapia Intensiva. Diretamente relacionado com questões de organização de serviços, formação de recursos humanos e financiamento em saúde, o assunto ganha importância no campo da Saúde Pública. Neste trabalho qualitativo pretendeu-se captar a visão do intensivista pediátrico frente a esta prática, investigando seu conhecimento sobre o tema, como este conduzia o processo tendo como referência a corrente teórica do principialismo de Beauchamp eChildress e a percepção desses profissionais sobre as principais dificuldades por eles enfrentadas. Foram entrevistados 17 intensivistas pediátricos de uma unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica de alta complexidade. As principais dificuldades apresentadas por estes profissionais foram: o lidar com a morte, a visão de que o conhecimento médico não é ilimitado, a relação médico-paciente / família e o medo de consequências legais. Grande parte dos entrevistados desconheciam o processo de Limitação do Suporte de Vida incluindo os protocolos existentes sobre o tema, assim como as ferramentas daBioética que poderiam auxiliá-los na resolução destes conflitos baseando suas argumentações éticas em princípios da corrente deontológica. Os resultados mostraram a necessidade de se desenvolver diretrizes para amelhoria da formação médica nos cursos de graduação e pós graduação no que se refere aos cuidados de fim de vida. A disciplina de Bioética é um instrumento fundamental para a capacitação destes profissionais nas tomadas de decisão deLimitação do Suporte de Vida e no desenvolvimento de profissionais aptos ao diálogo e ao reconhecimento do outro como agente moral.

The Life Support Limitation, a process that a doctor removes or does not offertherapies that would not alter the final outcome of a terminal medical condition, is advocated as a way to avoid lengthy procedures and painful deaths and thus combat the indiscriminated use of technology in intensive care units. Directly related to service organization, human resource training and health funding, the issue gains importance inthe field of Public Health. This qualitative study had the intention to capture the pediatric intensivist’s vision in this practice, investigating their knowledge on the subject, how he deals with the process using as reference the Beauchamp and Childress’s current theoretical principialism and the main difficults faced by theses professionals during the process of Life Support Limitation. Seventeen pediatric intensive care doctors of a high complexity intensive care unit were interviewed . The main difficulties presented by these professionals were: dealing with death, the view that medical knowledge is notunlimited, the relationship physician-patient/family and the fear of legal consequences. Most of the doctors in this study ignores the process of Life Support Limitation including established protocols about the subject, as well as bioethics’ tools that could assist them to resolve such conflicts . In fact, their arguments are based on deontologyethics. The results showed the need to develop guidelines for the improvement of medical education in graduate and posgraduate programs relataded to end of life care. The discipline of bioethics is a key instrument for the education of these professionals in Life Support Limitation and could permit the development of professionals able todialogue and recognition of others as a moral agent...

[Brain death in a pregnant woman and fetus survival]. / Muerte cerebral en una embarazada y sobrevida del feto.

A 29 year old woman suffered massive brain injury after a cerebellum hemorrhage at 17 weeks' gestation. Several hours later, and after brainstem test, she was declared brain dead. She was supported with intensive care during 56 days. After a cardiac arrest, on week 25, a 450 g infant was delivered through a cesarean section. The somatic support of mother and fetus according to the expected physiologic changes after brain death and its ethical implications are discussed.

End-of-life care in children: the Brazilian and the international perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the medical practices and the end-of-life care provided to children admitted to pediatric intensive care units in different parts of the globe. SOURCES: Articles on end-of-life care published during the last 20 years were selected from the PubMed, MEDLINE and LILACS databases, with emphasis on studies of death in pediatric intensive care units in Brazil, Latin America, Europe and North America, using the following keywords: death, bioethics, pediatric intensive care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and life support limitation. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Publications on life support limitation (LSL) are concentrated in North America and Europe. In North American pediatric intensive care units there is a greater incidence of LSL (approximately 60%) than in Europe or Latin America (30-40%). These differences appear to be related to cultural, religious, legal and economic factors. Over the last decade, LSL in Brazilian pediatric intensive care units has increased from 6 to 40%, with do not resuscitate orders as the most common method. Also of note is the low level of family participation in the decision-making process. A recent resolution adopted by the Federal Medical Council (Conselho Federal de Medicina) regulated LSL in our country, demystifying a certain apprehension of a legal nature. The authors present a proposal for a protocol to be followed in these cases. CONCLUSIONS: The adoption of LSL with children in the final phases of irreversible diseases has ethical, moral and legal support. In Brazil, these measures are still being adopted in a timid manner, demanding a change in behavior, especially in the involvement of families in the decision-making process.

[Death in an intensive care unit. Influence of life support withholding and withdrawal]. / La muerte en un servicio de terapia intensiva. Influencia de la abstención y retiro del soporte vital.

The influence of life support withholding and withdrawal on the deaths which occurred in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) over a period of 32 months was analysed. Of 2640 patients admitted in ICU, one of the following five mutually exclusive categories was registered on the 548 patients who died: (i) complete treatment; (ii) complete treatment with non-resuscitation order (NRO); (iii) withholding of life-sustaining treatment; (iv) withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment; and (v) brain death. There was therapeutic limitation of life support in 45.6% of cases (n = 250), with an important majority of withholding (NRO and withholding) in 32.6% of cases, in comparison to withdrawal of life support (8.2% of cases). The comparative analysis with other statistic information suggests the existence of a similar global therapeutic limitation mean in communities with similar cultural background, even if there is a lower influence of life support withdrawal (8.2%) when compared to other countries regardless of their attitude towards the need to establish different degrees of control over technological resources applied to the critically ill. Further research should analyze the influence that moral perception of withdrawal as inconvenient in our society, has over our findings.

[When we "are neither alive nor dead": the Schiavo's case]. / Cuando "ni vivimos ni morimos": el caso Schiavo.

Recently the world was drawn into the news of the Terri Schiavo case. Like in that case many other patients and relatives face similar situation. We foresee more medical and legal struggles caused primarily by the use of advanced life-sustaining medical technology that could prolong the life of human beings with progressive neurodegenerative disorders, or acquired irreversible brain injury. This is an appropriate time to ponder the course of action when we "neither live nor die". We agree, as Terri Schiavo's parents' representatives affirm, that Terri was not in a terminal state (end-of-life situation). Her life could have been prolonged for another fifteen years. However, her clinical presentation was not easy to comprehend by some. That way Terri has become a window through which the educated public realized that ethical decisions regarding medical affairs are always played in an environment of uncertainty and probabilities. One of the factors that make such situation more painful is the patient's incompetence to respond. In the long run, despite the family tragedy, we can not deny that the Schiavo case provides us the basis for a thorough and careful reflection about our human brittleness.

La muerte en un servicio de terapia intensiva: influencia de la abstencion y retiro del soporte vital / Death in an intensive care unit: influence of life support withholding and withdrawal

Se estudió la influencia de la abstención y retiro del soporte vital en la muerte ocurrida en un servicio de Terapia Intensiva durante un período de 32 meses. Sobre 2640 pacientes ingresados se registró la conducta terapéutica en 548 muertos, clasificando la misma en cinco categorías: (i) tratamiento completo, (ii) tratamiento completo con orden de no resucitación (ONR), (iii) abstención de soporte vital, (iv) retiro de soporte vital y (v) muerte cerebral. Hubo limitación terapéutica de soporte vital en el 45.6% (n= 250) con unpredominio importante de la abstención (ONR y abstención) en el 32.6% respecto del retiro de soporte vital (8.2%). Del estudio comparativo con otras estadísticas surge el hallazgo de un porcentaje global de limitación terapéutica media cercana a comunidades con una cultura similar, aunque con una incidencia de retiro (8.2%) manifiestamente inferior a la registrada en todos los países cualesquiera fuera su actitud frente a la necesidad de establecer diversos grados de control sobre el recurso tecnológico en el paciente crítico. Deberá indagarse la influencia que tiene la percepción moral del dejar de actuar, como un proceder inconveniente en nuestra sociedad, en los resultados observados.(AU)

The influence of life support withholding and withdrawal on the deaths which occurred in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) over a period of 32 months was analysed. Of 2640 patients admitted in ICU, one of the following five mutually exclusive categories was registered on the 548 patients who died: (i) complete treatment; (ii) complete treatment with non-resuscitation order (NRO); (iii) withholding of life-sustaining treatment; (iv) withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment; and (v) brain death. There was therapeutic limitation of life support in 45.6% of cases (n=250), with an important majority of withholding (NRO and withholding) in 32.6% of cases, in comparison to withdrawal of life support (8.2% of cases). The comparative analysis with other statistic information suggests the existence of a similar global therapeutic limitation mean in communities with similar cultural background, even if there is a lower influence of life support withdrawal (8.2%) when compared to other countries regardless of their attitude towards the need to establish different degrees of control over technological resources applied to the critically ill. Further research should analyze the influence that moral perception of withdrawal as inconvenient in our society, has over our findings.(AU)

La muerte en un servicio de terapia intensiva: influencia de la abstencion y retiro del soporte vital / Death in an intensive care unit: influence of life support withholding and withdrawal

Se estudió la influencia de la abstención y retiro del soporte vital en la muerte ocurrida en un servicio de Terapia Intensiva durante un período de 32 meses. Sobre 2640 pacientes ingresados se registró la conducta terapéutica en 548 muertos, clasificando la misma en cinco categorías: (i) tratamiento completo, (ii) tratamiento completo con orden de no resucitación (ONR), (iii) abstención de soporte vital, (iv) retiro de soporte vital y (v) muerte cerebral. Hubo limitación terapéutica de soporte vital en el 45.6% (n= 250) con unpredominio importante de la abstención (ONR y abstención) en el 32.6% respecto del retiro de soporte vital (8.2%). Del estudio comparativo con otras estadísticas surge el hallazgo de un porcentaje global de limitación terapéutica media cercana a comunidades con una cultura similar, aunque con una incidencia de retiro (8.2%) manifiestamente inferior a la registrada en todos los países cualesquiera fuera su actitud frente a la necesidad de establecer diversos grados de control sobre el recurso tecnológico en el paciente crítico. Deberá indagarse la influencia que tiene la percepción moral del dejar de actuar, como un proceder inconveniente en nuestra sociedad, en los resultados observados.(AU)

The influence of life support withholding and withdrawal on the deaths which occurred in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) over a period of 32 months was analysed. Of 2640 patients admitted in ICU, one of the following five mutually exclusive categories was registered on the 548 patients who died: (i) complete treatment; (ii) complete treatment with non-resuscitation order (NRO); (iii) withholding of life-sustaining treatment; (iv) withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment; and (v) brain death. There was therapeutic limitation of life support in 45.6% of cases (n=250), with an important majority of withholding (NRO and withholding) in 32.6% of cases, in comparison to withdrawal of life support (8.2% of cases). The comparative analysis with other statistic information suggests the existence of a similar global therapeutic limitation mean in communities with similar cultural background, even if there is a lower influence of life support withdrawal (8.2%) when compared to other countries regardless of their attitude towards the need to establish different degrees of control over technological resources applied to the critically ill. Further research should analyze the influence that moral perception of withdrawal as inconvenient in our society, has over our findings.(AU)