title: ICU Cornestone: a lecture that changed my practice.
abstract: In 1982, the author attended a lecture by Professor Joseph Civetta dealing with the concept that, at times, the goal of care should be comfort rather than cure, and that inappropriate care prolonged dying and suffering. Efforts to improve end-of-life care subsequent to this had effects on care at a local level and at a state level. Intensive care providers should be leaders in the provision of appropriate and compassionate care at the end of life.
authors.affiliation: Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia. mfisher@med.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003643:Death; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence