[The Death of Children: Ethical dilemmas about the limitation of therapeutic effort]. / La muerte de los niños. Debates éticos en torno a la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico.

Ethical dilemmas take importance in current medical practice, especially at the end of life. Limitation of therapeutic effort, understood as not starting or withdrawing life support measures, is an alternative to preserve patient dignity when death approaches. Ethical dilemmas in this context have been widely studied in adults; not in children, in which the big psychological tension experienced by parents and professionals makes difficult to take accepted and consensual ethical decisions. The objective of this work has been to understand the concept of limitation of therapeutic effort and the deontological principles that support them in the pediatric field. The purpose was none other than to establish improvements in dying children whom peculiar life-end makes necessary a different approach of adults and an ethical conceptual clarification which justify LET practice in youngers.

Dilemas éticos de enfermería en la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico del paciente críticamente enfermo

Propósito/Contexto. En unidades de cuidado intensivo las acciones están dirigidas a recuperar, preservar o mejorar la vida de los pacientes, sin embargo, cuando tras intentarlo todo, solo se evidencia la prolongación de la vida en situaciones de sufrimiento, se considera la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico (LET) como alternativa para un buen morir. Este artículo tiene como objetivo identificar los dilemas éticos que surgen en la enfermería, relacionados con la LET en pacientes adultos, hospitalizados en unidades de cuidado intensivo. Metodología/Enfoque. Se hizo una revisión crítica de la literatura, en cinco bases de datos. Se obtuvieron 31 artículos que cumplían con los criterios de selección del estudio. Resultados/Hallazgos. Del análisis integrativo surgieron cinco categorías relacionadas con los dilemas éticos e intervenciones de la enfermería en la LET: la participación de la enfermería en la toma de decisiones, la relación enfermera-paciente y su familia, los factores limitantes en la implementación de la LET y la búsqueda del buen morir. Discusión/Conclusiones/Contribuciones. La intervención de la enfermería es trascendental en el final del ciclo de vida del paciente crítico, sin embargo, su participación en el proceso es aún invisible. Los profesionales de enfermería necesitan adquirir habilidades y conocimientos en áreas como la comunicación empática y la ética en los cuidados al final de la vida para orientar una atención integral en salud en el proceso de la LET.

Purpose/Context. In intensive care units, actions aim to recover, preserve, or improve patients' lives; however, when life is just being extended under suffering after trying everything, limitation of therapeutic effort (LTE) is considered an alternative for a good death. This article establishes the ethical dilemmas and the nursing interventions in LTE in adult intensive care. Methodology/Approach. A critical review of the literature was made in five databases. We obtained 31 articles that met the study selection criteria. Results/Findings. Of the integrative analysis, five categories emerged related to ethical dilemmas and nursing interventions in LTE: nursing participation in decision-making, the nurse-patient/family relationship, the limiting factors in implementing LTE, and the search for a good death. Discussion/Conclusions/Contributions. Nursing makes far-reaching interventions at the end of the critical patient's life cycle; nevertheless, their participation in the process is still invisible. Nursing professionals need to acquire skills and knowledge of empathic communication, ethics, and the fundamentals of end-of-life care to guide comprehensive health care in the LTE process.

Objetivo/contexto. Nas unidades de cuidados intensivos, as ações dirigem-se a recuperar, preservar ou melhorar a vida dos doentes, no entanto, depois de tentar tudo, só se evidencia o prolongamento da vida em situações de sofrimento, considera-se a Limitação do Esforço Terapêutico (LET) como uma alternativa para um bom morrer. Neste artigo estabelecem-se os dilemas éticos e as intervenções de enfermagem na LET do paciente, em cuidados intensivos adulto. Metodologia/Abordagem. Foi feita uma revisão crítica da literatura, em cinco bases de dados. Foram obtidos 31 artigos que cumpriam os critérios de seleção do estudo. Resultados/Descobertas. Da análise integrativa surgiram cinco categorias relacionadas com os dilemas éticos e intervenções da enfermagem na LET: a participação da enfermagem na tomada de decisões, a relação enfermeira-paciente e sua família, os fatores limitantes na implementação de LET e a procura de um bom morrer. Discussão/Conclusões/Contribuições. A enfermagem tem intervenções transcendentais no final do ciclo de vida do paciente crítico; no entanto, sua participação no processo ainda é invisível. Os profissionais de enfermagem precisam adquirir habilidades e conhecimentos em áreas como a comunicação empática, a ética, nos fundamentos dos cuidados no final da vida, para orientar uma atenção integral à saúde no processo da LET.

Limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico al final de la vida: una mirada desde la medicina cubana contemporánea / Limitation of the Therapeutic Effort At the End of Life: A View from Contemporary Cuban Medicine

Los dilemas éticos respecto al cuidado al final de la vida son los más delicados e importantes en la práctica médica contemporánea; rebasan el campo de la bioética por sus implicaciones legales, sociales, culturales y religiosas. Independientemente de la universalidad de los postulados bioéticos, estos deben ser contextualizados atendiendo las características propias de cada nación. El panorama demográfico y epidemiológico de Cuba hace que la problemática tenga un comportamiento similar al mundo desarrollado, lo cual nos motivó a realizar un acercamiento teórico a la práctica de la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico. Para ello partimos de los principios éticos de la nacionalidad cubana, el escenario social-demográfico, el marco legal vigente y la política de salud en el contexto de las transformaciones económicas que vive el país. Esa estrategia terapéutica no guarda relación alguna con la eutanasia y permite retirar del escenario clínico la distanasia. A la vez, constituye un punto de partida hacia los cuidados paliativos con impacto en lo económico y en el ordenamiento eficiente de los servicios de salud potencialmente beneficioso. Existe en la literatura nacional un movimiento favorable respecto a esa práctica médica; pero la principal debilidad en el país es la falta de un marco legal que condene la distanasia y reconozca la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico como la medida que la evita(AU)

Ethical dilemmas regarding end-of-life care are the most delicate and important in contemporary medical practice; this care goes beyond the field of bioethics due to legal, social, cultural and religious implications. Regardless of the universality of bioethical postulates, they must be contextualized taking into account the characteristics of each nation. The demographic and epidemiological panorama of Cuba makes the problem behave similarly to the developed world, which motivated us to make a theoretical approach to the practice of limiting the therapeutic effort. For this purpose, we start from the ethical principles of Cuban nationality, the social-demographic scenario, the current legal framework and the health policy in the context of the economic transformations that the country is experiencing. This therapeutic strategy is not related to euthanasia and it allows dysthanasia to be removed from the clinical setting. At the same time, it constitutes a starting point towards palliative care with an economic impact and in the efficient organization of potentially beneficial health services. There is a favorable movement in the national literature regarding this medical practice; but the main weakness in the country is the lack of a legal framework that condemns dysthanasia and it recognizes the limitation of therapeutic effort as the measure that avoids it(AU)

Do internists know what limitation of therapeutic effort means?

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain whether internists know what limitation of therapeutic effort (LTE) means and whether training in palliative care affects this understanding. METHODS: A survey was administered to Spanish internists on their knowledge of LTE and training in palliative care. RESULTS: A total of 273 respondents completed the survey (mean age, 42±12 years), 80.2% of whom were associates. Some 23.8% of the respondents identified the complete definition of LTE. The most frequently selected responses were "not starting an active treatment" (85.0%) and "withdrawing an active treatment" (65.9%). Forty-three percent of the respondents lacked training in palliative care, 73.3% considered their level of understanding to be good or very good, 62.3% stated that they became anxious when addressing planning for end-of-life care with a patient, and 81.3% stated that they had experienced some conflict with their LTE decisions. CONCLUSIONS: Only 1 of every 4 internists knew the proper definition of LTE, with no association with the level of training in palliative care.

¿Saben los internistas qué es la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico? / Do internists know what limitation of therapeutic effort means?

Objetivos Averiguar si los internistas saben qué es la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico (LET) y si la formación en cuidados paliativos condiciona dicho conocimiento. Métodos Encuesta a los internistas españoles sobre el conocimiento de la LET y la formación en cuidados paliativos. Resultados Se recibieron 273 encuestas; edad media de los que respondieron 42±12 años; el 80,2% eran adjuntos. El 23,8% identificó la definición completa de la LET; las opciones más escogidas fueron «no iniciar un tratamiento activo» (85,0%) y «retirar un tratamiento activo» (65,9%). El 43% carece de formación en cuidados paliativos, el 73,3% considera que su nivel de conocimiento es bueno o muy bueno, al 62,3% le genera ansiedad afrontar la planificación de cuidados al final de la vida con el paciente y el 81,3% ha tenido algún conflicto con sus decisiones de la LET. Conclusiones Solo 1 de cada 4internistas conoce bien la definición de la LET, sin asociación con el grado de formación en cuidados paliativos (AU)

Objectives To ascertain whether internists know what limitation of therapeutic effort (LTE) means and whether training in palliative care affects this understanding. Methods A survey was administered to Spanish internists on their knowledge of LTE and training in palliative care. Results A total of 273 respondents completed the survey (mean age, 42±12 years), 80.2% of whom were associates. Some 23.8% of the respondents identified the complete definition of LTE. The most frecuently selected responses were «not starting an active treatment»(85.0%) and «withdrawing an active treatment» (65.9%). Forty-three percent of the respondents lacked training in palliative care, 73.3% considered their level of understanding to be good or very good, 62.3% stated that they became anxious when addressing planning for end-of-life care with a patient, and 81.3% stated that they had experienced some conflict with their LTE decisions. Conclusions Only 1 of every 4 internists knew the proper definition of LTE, with no association with level of training in palliative care (AU)

Do internists know what limitation of therapeutic effort means? / ¿Saben los internistas qué es la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico?

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain whether internists know what limitation of therapeutic effort (LTE) means and whether training in palliative care affects this understanding. METHODS: A survey was administered to Spanish internists on their knowledge of LTE and the training in palliative care. RESULTS: A total of 273 respondents completed the survey (mean age, 42±12 years), 80.2% of whom were associates. Some 23.8% of the respondents identified the complete definition of LTE. The most often chosen responses were «not starting an active treatment¼(85.0%) and «withdrawing an active treatment¼ (65.9%). Forty-three percent of the respondents lacked training in palliative care, 73.3% considered their level of understanding to be good or very good, 62.3% stated that they became anxious when addressing the planning for end-of-life care with the patient, and 81.3% stated that they had had some conflict with their LTE decisions. CONCLUSIONS: Only 1 of every 4 internists knew the proper definition for LTE, with no association with the level of training in palliative care.

[Modes of dying of children in Intensive Care Units in Spain: MOMUCIP study]. / Modos de fallecimiento de los niños en Cuidados Intensivos en España. Estudio MOMUCIP (modos de muerte en UCIP).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the different types of child deaths in Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) in Spain, and to analyse the characteristics of those dying from a limitation of therapeutic efforts (LET). METHOD: A multicentre retrospective study by conducted by reviewing the hospital discharge reports corresponding to deceased patients in 8 Spanish PICUs between 2011 and 2017. RESULTS: A total of 337 deaths were recorded, of which 151 (50'7%) occurred after a decision of LET, while 114 (33'8%) were due to an indicated, but failed, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and 52 (15.4%) were due to brain death. The most common causes of hospital admission for those children that finally died were a heart-related problem (32.6%) or a respiratory problem (22.6%). A total of 86 cases (25.5%) had a previous hospital admission, with 253 cases (75%) suffering from some type of chronical illness, and 78 (23%) had a serious disability at the time of the admission. LET cases were more frequent among these children and those suffering from cancer. The predominant LET type consisted in: not starting the CPR in the event of a cardiac arrest (45%), withdrawal of the respiratory support (31.6%), and withdrawal of vasoactive drugs (21.6%). CONCLUSIONS: At the present time, at least half of the children dying in a PICU in Spain die after a LET decision, which is more frequent in those patients with previous hospital admissions, with a serious incapacity, and chronic or oncological disease. Health professionals should be aware of this situation, and be prepared to share decisions with the families, and to offer children at the end of their life the best possible caring quality.

Limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico: experiencias de enfermeras en una unidad de cuidados intensivos / Limitation of therapeutic effort: Experiences of nurses in an intensive care unit

El propósito de este estudio fue comprender cómo es la experiencia de las enfermeras en cuanto a vivenciar la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico (LET) en unidades de paciente crítico de un hospital público de la región de Valparaíso. Se opta por un estudio de tipo cualitativo, de trayectoria fenomenológica, se realizó entrevista en profundidad a 3 enfermeras, con la pregunta orientadora ¿Qué experiencia tiene usted como enfermera de Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) con respecto a la LET? Los discursos fueron interpretados bajo el referencial de Fenómeno Situado de Joel Martins. En los relatos se evidencia el uso de las palabras "manejo proporcional" como sinónimo, el rol de enfermería es confuso en la toma de decisión respecto a la LET pero se releva al momento del cuidado al final de la vida. Se concluye que las enfermeras son quienes deben asumir un rol más protagónico en el cuidado de la persona en esta situación, participando activamente en la toma de decisiones del binomio familia-paciente. Se recomienda la creación de protocolos para la LET, detallando la definición de la LET junto con el rol de enfermería y del equipo de salud, con el objetivo de no prolongar la vida innecesariamente, no aumentar la esperanza familiar y asegurar el cuidado al final de la vida.

The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of nurses in terms of experiencing limitation of therapeutic effort (LET) in critical patient units of a public hospital in Valparaíso. We opted for a qualitative study, a phenomenological trajectory, an in-depthinterview with 3 nurses, with the guiding question. What experience do you have as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse regarding LET? The speeches were interpreted under the referential of Located Phenomenon of Joel Martins. In the stories the use of the words "proportional management" is evidenced as synonymous, the nursing role is confusing in the decision making regarding the LET but it is relieved at the moment of care at the end of life. It is concluded that nurses are the ones who must assume a more protagonic role in the care of the person in this situation, participating actively in the decision making of the family-patient binomial. It is recommended the creation of protocols for the LET, detailing the definition of the LET along with the role of nursing and the health team, with the aim of not prolonging life unnecessarily, not increasing family hope and ensuring care at the end of life.

[Postura de la Academia Nacional de Medicina de México en relación con las decisiones sobre el final de la vida].

There are decisions at the end of life that currently are relevant as humanistic values. Respect for human life and dignity are part of human rights. The National Academy of Medicine of Mexico declares its posture about end-of-life decisions that include treatment refusal, limitation of the therapeutic effort, advance directives and palliative sedation, among others, with the purpose to favor a peaceful death.

Hay decisiones relacionadas con el final de la vida que actualmente son relevantes como valores humanísticos. El respeto y la dignidad de la vida humana están incluidos en los derechos humanos. La Academia Nacional de Medicina de México declara su postura acerca de las decisiones sobre el final de la vida que incluyen rechazo a un tratamiento, limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico, voluntad anticipada y sedación paliativa, entre otros, con la finalidad de propiciar una muerte en paz.

[Limitation of therapeutic effort in patients with bacteremia]. / Limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico en pacientes con bacteriemia.

INTRODUCTION: The limitation of therapeutic effort (LTE) depends on medical, ethical and individual factors. We describe the characteristics of patients with bacteremia in which it was decided to limit the therapeutic effort. METHOD: Prospective study of bacteremia in a community hospital in 2011. We collected information regarding patient variable (age, sex, Barthel index, comorbidities, Charlson Index and exogenous factors) as well as regarding the infectious episode (etiology, focus, place of adquisition, clinical expressivity, LTE and hospital mortality). The group in which LTE was performed was compared to the one that was not. RESULTS: We collected 233 episodes of bacteremia in 227 patients. We performed LTE in 19 patients (8.2%). Patients with LTE were older (80.7 vs. 72.6 years, p=.014), had more comorbidity (Charlson index 4.6 vs. 2.1, p<.001 and most frequently were severe dependents (57.9% vs. 18.8%, p<.001). We found no association with sex, place of adquisition or clinical expressivity. The commonest clinical focus in patients with LTE was the urinary (42.1%) and there was a predominance of gram positive bacteria (63.2%). The empirical treatment was started early in 73.7% of cases. All patients except one died. CONCLUSION: LTE is considered in an important number of patients with bacteremia. They usually are older, with more comorbidity and functional dependence, bad functional basal status and important comorbidity. Knowing their differential characteristics allow us to understand this decision.

Colorectal carcinoma in the frail surgical patient. Implementation of a Work Area focused on the Complex Surgical Patient improves postoperative outcome. / Resultados de morbimortalidad en cáncer colorrectal en paciente quirúrgico frágil. Implementación de un Área de Atención al Paciente Quirúrgico Complejo.

INTRODUCTION: Advanced age and comorbidity impact on post-operative morbi-mortality in the frail surgical patient. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and individualized care delivered to the frail patient by implementation of a Work Area focused on the Complex Surgical Patient (CSPA). METHODS: Retrospective study with prospective data collection. Ninety one consecutive patients, classified as frail (ASAIII or IV, Barthel<80 and/or Pfeiffer>3) underwent curative radical surgery for colorectal carcinoma between 2013 and 2015. GroupI: 35 patients optimized by the CSPA during 2015. GroupII: 56 No-CSPA patients, treated prior to CSPA implementation, during 2014-2015. Group homogeneity, complication rate, length of stay, reoperations, readmissions, costs and overall mortality were analyzed and adjusted by Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in term of age, gender, ASA classification, body mass index, tumor staging and type of surgical intervention between the two groups. Major complications (Clavien-DindoIII-IV) (12.5% vs. 28.5%, P=.04), hospital stay (12.6±6days vs. 15.2±6days, P=0.041), readmissions (12.5% vs. 28.3%, P<0.041), and patient episode cost weighted according to DRG (3.29±1 vs. 4.3±1, P=0.008) were statistically inferior in Group CSPA. There were no differrences in reoperations (6.2% vs. 5.3%) or mortality (6.2% vs. 7.1%). 96.9% of patients of GroupI manifested having received a satisfactory attention and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a CSPA, delivering surgical care to frail colorectal cancer patients, involves a reduction of complications, length of stay and readmissions, and is a cost-effective arrangement.

Limitation of therapeutic effort in patients hospitalised in departments of internal medicine. / Limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico en pacientes hospitalizados en servicios de medicina interna.

INTRODUCTION: There is little information on the limitation of therapeutic effort (LTE) in patients admitted to hospital internal medicine units. OBJECTIVES: To describe the indicated LTE regimens in the departments of internal medicine and the characteristics of the patients who undergo them. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational, descriptive retrospective study was conducted on 4 hospitals of the Community of Madrid. The study collected demographic and comorbidity data and the LTE orders prescribed for all patients who died during a period of 6 months. RESULTS: The study included 382 patients with a mean age of 85±10 years; 204 were women (53.4%) and 222 (58.1%) came from their homes. Some 51.1% of the patients were terminal, 43.2% had moderate to severe dementia, and 95.5% presented at least moderate comorbidity. Some type of LTE was performed in 318 patients (83.7%); the most common orders were "No cardiopulmonary resuscitation" (292 patients, 76.4%; 95% CI 72.1-80.8), "Do not use aggressive measures" (113 patients, 16.4%; 95% CI 13.7-19.4) and "Do not transfer to an intensive care unit" (102 cases, 14.8%, 95% CI 12.3-17.7). Some type of LTE was performed in 318 patients (83.7%); the most common orders were "No cardiopulmonary resuscitation" (292 patients, 76.4%; 95% CI 72.1-80.8), "Do not use aggressive measures" (113 patients, 16.4%; 95% CI 13.7-19.4) and "Do not transfer to an intensive care unit" (102 cases, 14.8%, 95% CI 12.3-17.7). CONCLUSIONS: LTE is common among patients who die in Internal Medicine. The most widely used regimens were "No CPR" and the unspecific statement "Do not use aggressive measures". The patients were elderly and had significant comorbidity, terminal illness and advanced dementia.

[Opinion of professionals in an intensive care unit on the limitations of therapeutic effort]. / Opinión de los profesionales de una unidad de cuidados intensivos sobre la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the opinion held by professionals in an intensive care unit on the limitation of therapeutic effort process at the end-of-life (LTE). To collect this information, and then use it to improve the basic aspects that the LTE have on the quality of care by intensive care unit staff. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective descriptive study was carried out in the Intensive Care Unit of a third level public university hospital. A questionnaire was prepared that included questions on their demographic profile and others to provide an ethical valuation profile, as well as to find out the knowledge and information that the professional had on the LTE. Descriptive study of the sample and comparative statistics were performed using the chi-squared statistical test. RESULTS: A total of 65 valid questionnaires were obtained from a convenience sample of 70 professionals. Almost all of them (98%) were in favour of the limitation of therapeutic effort. The LTE was considered as some kind of euthanasia (active or passive) in up to 28% of the replies, valuations by professional categories is shown in. More than three-quarters (77%) had the belief that not to start treatment was not the same as withdrawing an already established treatment. Just over half (52%) of the respondents believe the value that should have more weight when considering LET would be the prognosis of the current illness of the patient, and 46% the future quality of life of the patient. The economic cost of treatment to be applied was not considered in any case. CONCLUSIONS: The LTE is approved by the majority of professionals in our Intensive Care Unit. Although a non-negligible percentage understood it as a form of euthanasia.

[Withholding and withdrawing treatment in patients admitted in an Internal Medicine ward]. / Limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico en pacientes hospitalizados en el Servicio de Medicina Interna.

INTRODUCTION: Many of the patients admitted to a general medical ward have a compromised quality of life, or short life expectancy, so they are potential candidates for withhold/withdraw (WH/WD) treatment. The first objectif was to describe which measures were WH/WD among patients who died during their admission in a general medical ward from a tertiary hospital in Madrid. Secondly, to define the clinical characteristics of this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study during 6 months from 2011 and 2012 of all the patients dead while their admission in the Internal Medicine Department. RESULTS: 2007 patients were admitted, 211 died (10.5%). 121 (57%) were female, with 85±9 years of mean age. 103 (48.8%) came from a residential facility and 105 fulfilled terminality criteria (49.8%). One decision to WH/WD treatment was made in 182 patients (86.3%, CI 95%: 81.4-91.1), two in 99 cases (46.9%, CI 95%: 39.9-53.9) and 3 or more in 31 subjects (14.7%, CI 95%: 9.6-19.7). The most frequent decisions involved do-not-resuscitate orders (154, 73.0%), rejection of «aggressive treatment measures¼ (80, 38.0%), use of antibiotics (19, 9.0%), admission in ICU (18, 8.5%), and/or surgical treatment (11, 5.2%). CONCLUSIONS: WH/WD treatment is very frequent among patients who died in a general medical ward. The most frequent involved do-not-resuscitate orders and rejection of «aggressive treatment measures¼. WH/WD decisions are adopted in an elderly population, with extensive comorbidity and an elevated prevalence of advanced dementia and/or terminal disease.

Limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico: aspectos religiosos y culturales / Therapeutic effort limitation: religious and cultural aspects

La comprensión de la muerte varía según la época, la cultura, la religión y la edad. Con anterioridad al desarrollo que la ciencia médica ha experimentado desde finales del siglo XIX, en la mayoría de las culturas y religiones había una aceptación de la muerte y se consideraba como parte del ciclo vital de la persona donde se trascendía a una forma celestial y puramente sobrenatural. Los avances científicos de la medicina han venido a cambiar esta situación. La muerte se empezó a ver como un enemigo y dio comienzo a una lucha encarnizada entre ambas. El concepto de "muerte natural" se sustituyó por el de "muerte intervenida," dando origen a numerosas cuestiones relacionadas con la toma de decisiones y actuaciones a realizar en pacientes ingresados y en situación terminal. En este trabajo se realiza una reflexión teórica que tiene como objetivo el análisis bioético acerca de las diferencias entre los aspectos religiosos y culturales relacionados con la práctica de la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico...(AU)La comprensión de la muerte varía según la época, la cultura, la religión y la edad. Con anterioridad al desarrollo que la ciencia médica ha experimentado desde finales del siglo XIX, en la mayoría de las culturas y religiones había una aceptación de la muerte y se consideraba como parte del ciclo vital de la persona donde se trascendía a una forma celestial y puramente sobrenatural. Los avances científicos de la medicina han venido a cambiar esta situación. La muerte se empezó a ver como un enemigo y dio comienzo a una lucha encarnizada entre ambas. El concepto de "muerte natural" se sustituyó por el de "muerte intervenida," dando origen a numerosas cuestiones relacionadas con la toma de decisiones y actuaciones a realizar en pacientes ingresados y en situación terminal. En este trabajo se realiza una reflexión teórica que tiene como objetivo el análisis bioético acerca de las diferencias entre los aspectos religiosos y culturales relacionados con la práctica de la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico...

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The understanding of death varies according to time, culture, religion, and age. Previous to the development that medical sciences has undergone since the end of the XIX Century, in most cultures and religions there have been an acceptation of death and considered as part of the person vital cycle in which one would transcend to a celestial and purely supernatural form. The scientific advances in medicine have emerged to change this situation. Death began to be seen as an enemy and gave rise to an enraged struggle between both of them. The concept of natural death was changed into intervened death, which originated numerous related questions with decision and action taking to be performed in hospitalized patients and those in terminal situation. In this work a theoretical reflection is performed whose objective is the bioethical analysis on the differences among religious and cultural aspects related to the practice of therapeutic effort limitation...(AU)The understanding of death varies according to time, culture, religion, and age. Previous to the development that medical sciences has undergone since the end of the XIX Century, in most cultures and religions there have been an acceptation of death and considered as part of the person vital cycle in which one would transcend to a celestial and purely supernatural form. The scientific advances in medicine have emerged to change this situation. Death began to be seen as an enemy and gave rise to an enraged struggle between both of them. The concept of natural death was changed into intervened death, which originated numerous related questions with decision and action taking to be performed in hospitalized patients and those in terminal situation. In this work a theoretical reflection is performed whose objective is the bioethical analysis on the differences among religious and cultural aspects related to the practice of therapeutic effort limitation...

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.

[Limitation of therapeutic effort: Approach to a combined view]. / Limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico: aproximación a una visión de conjunto.

Over the past few decades, we have been witnessing that increasing fewer people pass away at home and increasing more do so within the hospital. More specifically, 20% of deaths now occur in an intensive care unit (ICU). However, death in the ICU has become a highly technical process. This sometimes originates excesses because the resources used are not proportionate related to the purposes pursued (futility). It may create situations that do not respect the person's dignity throughout the death process. It is within this context that the situation of the clinical procedure called "limitation of the therapeutic effort" (LTE) is reviewed. This has become a true bridge between Intensive Care and Palliative Care. Its final goal is to guarantee a dignified and painless death for the terminally ill.

Lectura clínica de una sentencia judicial: el derecho a la vida y su aplicación en la toma de decisiones clínicas / Clinical interpretation of a court ruling: the right to life and its application in clinical decision making

En el año 2009 se conoce el caso de un niño afectado de leucemia aguda linfoblástica. Es tratado con buen resultado y se obtiene la remisión completa, pero más tarde aparece una recidiva. Los padres no otorgan su consentimiento para el tratamiento, generando un conflicto que llega al mundo judicial y da lugar a dos fallos de gran interés para los profesionales de la salud. Por una parte se señala qué signfica en la práctica clínica el derecho a la vida. Por otra, se desarrolla el proceso de toma de decisiones sobre los menores con base en la teoría del menor maduro, un hito jurispridencial en Chile. Con el propósito de contribuir a esclarecer el significado de la sentencia de la Corte de Apelaciones de Valdivia, se expone su contenido en términos clínicos y se concluye con las aportaciones más significativas.

In 2009, the case of a child affected by acute lymphoblastic leukemia took place. He is treated with good results resulting in complete remission, but relapse occurred later. The parents did not consent to the new treatment, creating a conflict that reaches the legal world and leads to two court rulings of great interest to health professionals. One explained the meaning of the right to life in the clinical practice, and the other dealt with the decision-making process regarding minors based on the theory of the mature minor doctrine, a jurisprudential milestone in Chile. In order to help clarify the meaning of the ruling of the Corte de Apelaciones of Valdivia, its content is presented in clinical terms and ended with the most significant contributions.

Toma de decisiones éticas: ¿cuándo una limitación es realmente correcta? / Ethical decision making: when a limitation is really true?

El objetivo del presente artículo es realizar el análisis de una situación acontecida en una unidad de cuidado intensivo (UCI) que requiere una toma de decisión, la cual tiene como consecuencia la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico en una paciente, generando implicaciones éticas para el personal a cargo. Se describe el caso clínico y a continuación se realiza el análisis mediante el Modelo de Toma de Decisiones del Hastings Center. Este modelo permite la aproximación a la situación a partir de los valores subyacentes. Como comentarios especiales, resaltar la necesidad de realizar la toma de decisiones en equipo, brindar información clara, oportuna y veraz a los familiares del paciente y respetar las decisiones que estos puedan tomar.

The aim of this paper is to perform the analysis of a situation, given in an intensive care unit that requires a decision-making which results in the limitation of treatment in a patient, generating ethical implications for staff in charge. We describe the clinical case and then the analysis is performed using the model of decision making Hastings Center. This model allows the approach to the situation from the underlying values. As special comments, highlight the need for decision making in teams, providing clear, timely and reliable information to relatives of the patient and respect the decisions that they can make.

Limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico en la práctica clínica: percepciones de profesionales médicos y de enfermería de unidades de pacientes críticos de un hospital público de adultos en la Región Metropolitana / Limits to therapeutic efforts in clinical practice: perceptions of medical and nursing professionals of critical patients units of a public hospital for adults in the Metropolitan Region / Limitação do esforço terapêutico na prática clínica: percepções de profissionais médicos e enfermeiros de unidades de pacientes críticos de um hospital público de adultos na Região Metropolitana

Uno de los problemas centrales de la bioética clínica relacionados con el final de la vida es la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico. Su correcta práctica se traduce en limitar esfuerzos cuando las circunstancias del paciente dan la certeza de que no existen posibilidades de recuperación. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer sobre este problema desde las percepciones de profesionales médicos y de enfermería que trabajan en unidades de pacientes críticos. Para ello se realizó un estudio cualitativo de tipo exploratorio y se aplicó teoría fundamentada como herramienta de análisis, a través de la búsqueda de categorías teóricas a partir de los datos. Entre los resultados globales se destaca que la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico es una práctica habitual a la que se deben enfrentar los profesionales. Los conceptos técnicos se encuentran claros; sin embargo, los principales problemas éticos se originan en los procesos de toma de decisiones, ya que existe un desconocimiento de las implicancias éticas y una escasa reflexión sobre el tema. En ninguno de los dos grupos de estudio existían profesionales con formación en bioética, hecho frecuente en este ámbito.

One of the main problems of clinical bioethics related to the end of life is the limits to therapeutic efforts. Its fair practice is reduced to limit efforts when the circumstances of the patient point to the lack of possibilities for recovering. The goal of this study is to inquire about this problem under the perceptions of medical and nursing professionals who work in critical patients units. An exploratory qualitative study was carried out applying based theory as tool for analysis, through the search of theoretical categories in data. Among the global results, the limits to therapeutic efforts are highlighted as a habitual practice which professionals must face. Technical concepts are found clear; nevertheless, the main ethical problems are originated in the processes of decision making, since there is lack of knowledge on the ethical implications and a scarce reflection about the topic. Both groups of study lacked professionals trained in bioethics, frequent fact in this field.

Um dos problemas centrais da bioética clínica relacionados com o final da vida é a limitação do esforço terapêutico. A sua correta prática se traduz em limitar esforços quando as circunstâncias do paciente dão a certeza de que não existem possibilidades de recuperação. O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer este problema a partir das percepções de profissionais médicos e enfermeiros que trabalham em unidades de pacientes críticos. Para isso se realizou um estudo qualitativo de tipo exploratório e se aplicou uma teoria fundamentada como ferramenta de análise através da busca de categorias teóricas a partir dos dados. Entre os resultados globais se destaca que a limitação do esforço terapêutico é uma prática habitual a qual os profissionais devem enfrentar. Os conceitos técnicos se encontram claros; entretanto, os principais problemas éticos se originam nos processos de tomada de decisões, já que existe um desconhecimento das implicações éticas e uma escassa reflexão sobre o tema. Em nenhum dos dois grupos de estudo existiam profissionais com formação em bioética, fato frequente neste âmbito.