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Ethics of resuscitation
1Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Medical School, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Critical Care Clinics
|January 1, 1996
Summary
The default assumption of consent for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) presents ethical challenges. Open discussions about resuscitation are needed between patients, communities, and healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Bioethics
- Clinical Practice
Background:
- The principle of presumed consent for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is widely applied in healthcare settings.
- This universal presumption raises significant practical and ethical concerns regarding patient autonomy and informed decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To challenge the ethical basis of presumed consent for CPR.
- To advocate for a more reality-based approach to resuscitation discussions.
Main Methods:
- Ethical analysis of the principle of presumed consent in CPR.
- Review of current clinical practices and patient-provider communication regarding resuscitation.
Main Results:
- The presumption of consent for CPR leads to ethical dilemmas and potential conflicts with patient wishes.
- Current practices often lack the necessary dialogue about resuscitation, impacting ethically based decision-making.
Conclusions:
- The universal presumption of consent for CPR should be critically re-evaluated and potentially abandoned.
- Ethically sound decision-making requires transparent and comprehensive discussions about resuscitation with patients and the public.
Keywords:
Death and Euthanasia