Patient autonomy, informed consent, and the reality of critical care.
The realities of serious illness and critical care environments often complicate our efforts to evaluate treatment refusal according to the doctrine of informed consent. However, health professionals must strive to use informed consent as the ultimate standard for both treatment and nontreatment decisions, by making continual efforts to communicate with patients, share information, and enhance their sense of autonomy and control.
Youngner
S J
SJ
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003422:Critical Care; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026706:Paternalism; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D026684:Personal Autonomy