title: Moral considerations in non-EXIT airway management.
abstract: The case report "Management of the critical airway when an EXIT procedure is not an option" has important moral decision-making implications. If intubation was not quickly successful, then significant hypoxic brain injury may have resulted. A full discussion of the moral implications in cases such as this, prior to delivery, is important - both to the family and to the clinicians involved. Our contemporary era is characterised by a pronounced disparity of values and belief systems. An active process for moral decision-making based upon dialogic consensus, is seen as more appropriate than contemplation of ethical frameworks alone. This is increasingly important as the armamentarium of life-sustaining technology available to clinicians steadily increases.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Otolaryngology, Clinical Unit in Ethics and Health Law, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, PO Box 293, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: walkerp@tpg.com.au.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D044148:Lymphatic Abnormalities / Q000628:therapy*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Airway management; Ethics; Morals