Decisions to Limit Treatment in a Neurosurgical Unit: An Aspect of Audit of Mortality
- 1 August 1991
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Scottish Medical Journal
- Vol. 36 (4) , 109-111
- https://doi.org/10.1177/003693309103600404
Abstract
The monthly audit of deaths in this regional neurosurgical unit notes decisions to limit treatment recorded in the case-sheet. In 1988 a treatment-limiting decision was noted in 67 of 131 deaths (51%). In 40% of these the decision was made soon after admission; in these patients the mean time to death was 1.5 days (median one day). When the decision was made later, the mean time from admission to death was 6.8 days (median five days). Regular audit provides an opportunity to discuss the appropriateness of such decisions in various circumstances.Keywords
This publication has 8 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Appleton Consensus: suggested international guidelines for decisions to forego medical treatment.Journal of Medical Ethics, 1989
- Life sustaining technology: making the decisions.BMJ, 1989
- The Physician's Responsibility toward Hopelessly Ill PatientsNew England Journal of Medicine, 1989
- Euthanasia, withholding life-prolonging treatment, and moral differences between killing and letting die.Journal of Medical Ethics, 1988
- Living wills: working party report.Journal of Medical Ethics, 1988
- DECISIONS TO LIMIT TREATMENTThe Lancet, 1987
- Prediction of Outcome and the Management of Severe Head Injuries: The Attitudes of NeurosurgeonsNeurosurgery, 1986
- Rationing, Justice, and the American PhysicianPublished by American Medical Association (AMA) ,1986