title: The patient's progress from this world to that which is to come: commentary on the Consensus Statement of the Working Group on Roman Catholic Approaches to Determining Critical Care.
abstract: The author comments on the consensus statement from the point of view of an ethics consultant in Germany. Since many hospitals in Germany are under considerable competitive pressure, mission statements are becoming more and more important in order to draw a distinction between the different hospital types and to convey the meaning of the corporate identity both internally and externally. The Consensus Statement, which provides basic orientation without going into too much detail, can be a helpful initial document. However, it does not deal with two specific problem areas which are examined more closely in the commentary: the application of risk-of-death algorithims in ICUs and the question of church membership of the caregivers to enable a proper preparation for death. The commentary also reveals certain difficulties in the discussion taking place in Anglo-Saxon countries and Continental Europe.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Ethics at the Markus Hospital, Wilhelm-Epstein-Str. 2, D-60431 Frankfurt/M., Germany.
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D002410:Catholicism; D032921:Consensus; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards; D005858:Germany; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000592:standards*; D016519:Hospitals, Religious / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics; D038622:Internationality; D008020:Life Support Care; D018447:Medical Futility; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012935:Social Justice; D013727:Terminal Care; D028761:Withholding Treatment
keywords: Health Care and Public Health; Professional Patient Relationship; Religious Approach