Indications, consent and treatment limitation in emergency medicine

Anaesthesist. 2021 Dec 9. doi: 10.1007/s00101-021-01052-0. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPhysicians in acute and emergency medicine are increasingly confronted by geriatric, multimorbid or oncology patients with advanced stages of disease. Lacking further information or specification about the patient's will may result in overtreatment. An increasing part of the German population has advance directives; however, there is still uncertainty among physicians when dealing with advance directives and health care proxies. Misinterpretation may entail civil and criminal consequences or may lead to a withdrawal of the license to practice. Advance directives for instance are not equivalent to a general waiving of treatment and therapy. Besides life support, terminal care and its legal aspects must also be considered in acute medicine.PMID:34882265 | DOI:10.1007/s00101-021-01052-0
Source: Der Anaesthesist - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Source Type: research