Ethical considerations and CPR in the elderly patient.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation has become an increasingly common event in the terminal illness of hospitalized seriously ill elderly patients. Elderly patients, however, tend to respond poorly to the resuscitation procedure. The authors analyze the ethical and legal considerations in offering or withholding cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The central position of the physician in decision-making is emphasized.
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Department of Religion, Health, and Human Values, College of Health Sciences, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
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D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D026686:Beneficence; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D032921:Consensus; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006126:Group Processes; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D040841:Resource Allocation; D016414:Resuscitation Orders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012297:Right to Die; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012945:Social Values; D028761:Withholding Treatment