Journal
of Pain and Symptom Management; 2018 55(2) p. 530-534
Steiner,
Jill M; Patton, Kristen K; Prutkin, Jordan M; Kirkpatrick, James N
An
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator can serve to avoid sudden death but may
lead to a prolonged death from heart failure. Although ethical consensus holds that
defibrillator deactivation is legal and ethical, disagreements about life
prolongation may complicate decision making. The ethical, technical, and
medical complexity involved in the case study presented in this article speaks to the need for clear,
prospective communication involving the patient, the patient's family, and
members of the care team.