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Heuristics and life-sustaining treatments
Adam Feltz1, Stephanie Samayoa
1School of Liberal Arts, Schreiner University, 2100 Memorial Boulevard, Kerrville, TX 78028-5697, USA. adfeltz@schreiner.edu
Journal of Bioethical Inquiry
|November 29, 2012
Summary
Surrogate decision-making for life-sustaining treatments (LSTs) can be influenced by various factors. Research shows these critical choices, particularly initiating LSTs, are susceptible to predictable manipulation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Decision Science
- Psychology
Background:
- Surrogates frequently make decisions regarding withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments (LSTs).
- Factors influencing surrogate decisions to initiate LSTs remain less understood compared to decisions about withholding or withdrawing treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors influencing surrogate decisions to initiate life-sustaining treatments (LSTs).
- To determine if and how surrogate decisions regarding LST initiation can be predictably manipulated.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted to assess factors affecting surrogate decisions.
- Variables examined included patient cognitive state, patient age, physician recommendations, patient preferences, and default treatment options.
Main Results:
- Surrogate decisions to initiate LSTs were found to be predictably manipulable.
- Key influencing factors included patient's cognitive status, age, physician recommendations, patient preferences, and default treatment settings.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests that surrogates may employ heuristics when making critical LST decisions.
- Findings have implications for improving surrogate decision-making and ethical considerations regarding paternalism in medical care.
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