Wealth and the right to refuse ICU discharge. Part 1: the ethical case.
When a patient cannot be helped significantly by further ICU care, can the family refuse discharge of the patient because they are able to pay for further care? Here is an actual case situation submitted from one of our readers, followed by the ethical case analysis and suggestions on what to do in a similar situation.
R A
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Mulnard
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A
Omery
D000368:Aged; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D028681:Moral Obligations; D010351:Patient Discharge; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D040841:Resource Allocation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012945:Social Values; D035501:Uncertainty; D028761:Withholding Treatment