Results from ethical international surveys on the management of the continuous renal replacement therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the ethical approach of clinicians to the continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).


METHODS
Review of international surveys.


RESULTS
Many surveys have been carried out in order to evaluate the clinical approach and management of the continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Nothing has been proposed in order to evaluate it from a bioethical point of view, even if many surveys dealt with the problem of the ethically correct administration of vital supports. These data demonstrate that an ethically correct approach to the management of life-saving support can be sometimes difficult. Results of a recent study on the ethical approach of intensivists and nephrologists to CRRT will be shown and discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Several ethical questions in the management of CRRT and other vital support are still unsolved. Practical and psychological aspects of the curing process are sometimes stronger than bioethical principles.
Zamperetti
N
N
Department of Anesthesia, St. Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza. ulss6005@goldnet.it
Ronco
C
C
Digito
A
A
Piccinni
P
P
Dan
M
M
D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006440:Hemofiltration; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*