title: [Current ethical problems in cardiology].
abstract: The multiplication of therapeutic protocols and increasingly complex procedures, together with the development of invasive methods and interventional cardiology, mean that ethical considerations are becoming more and more numerous. They intervene in routine cardiology, where the practitioner must give the patient the best possible care without relying too heavily on technology. They are also important from an economic point of view: cardiology is one of the most costly specialties, yet economic considerations mus not prevent the individual patient from receiving the necessary care. This calls for rational use of resources, by means of a thorough evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic tools, as well as rationalization of prescriptions and therapeutic decisions. Ethical considerations serve as both a decision-making tool and a "buffer". They involve striking a balance between provision of the best possible care and the interests of society as a whole.
authors.affiliation: Clinique Cardiologique de l'Hôpital Necker, Paris.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vacheron
mesh_terms: D002309:Cardiology; D004992:Ethics, Medical
vernacular_title: Problèmes éthiques actuels en cardiologie.