[Non invasive ventilation in the ICU for the neuromuscular patient: legal issues].
The legal frame in which chronic mechanical ventilation is placed in Switzerland and France is discussed in this article. Safety of the patients and responsibility of caregivers are considered. We also discuss the ethical and legal aspects of the end-of-life of these patients, particularly when they decide that mechanical ventilation must be interrupted because they do not more tolerate their poor quality of life, and when they deliberately decide to die.
Service des soins intensifs, HUG, 1211 Genève 14.
Jean-Claude
JC
Chevrolet
Jean-Paul
JP
Janssens
Dan
D
Adler
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000941:ethics; D003422:Critical Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000628:therapy; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000941:ethics; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000941:ethics; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000941:ethics; D013557:Switzerland; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*