Ethics roundtable debate: child with severe brain damage and an underlying brain tumour.
A young person presents with a highly malignant brain tumour with hemiparesis and limited prognosis after resection. She then suffers an iatrogenic cardiac and respiratory arrest that results in profound anoxic encephalopathy. A difference in opinion between the treatment team and the parent is based on a question of futile therapy. Opinions from five intensivists from around the world explore the differences in ethical and legal issues. A Physician-ethicist comments on the various approaches.
Gunn
Scott
S
Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Hashimoto
Satoru
S
Karakozov
Michael
M
Marx
Thomas
T
Tan
Ian K S
IK
Thompson
Dan R
DR
Vincent
Jean-Louis
JL
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D026690:Ethics, Clinical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000941:ethics*; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000941:ethics*; D018447:Medical Futility; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations