Should implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and permanent pacemakers in patients with terminal illness be deactivated? Deactivating implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and permanent pacemakers in patients with terminal illness. An ethical distinction.
Kay
G Neal
GN
Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35223, USA. Nealkay@UAB.EDU
Bittner
Gregory T
GT
D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics*