title: A Woman in Her 30s Whose Family Becomes Distrustful After an Initial Prognosis Proves Inaccurate.
abstract: A woman in her 30s with alcoholic liver disease presented with an intracerebral hemorrhage with intraventricular extension, hydrocephalus, and an intracerebral hemorrhage score of 3. In the ICU, she was comatose with a flexion withdrawal as a best motor response. The ICU team, after 6 days of care, informed the family that the prognosis for any recovery of meaningful neurological function was dismal and that the family should consider withdrawal of life support. The family resisted any consideration of limitation of care, citing religious beliefs.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza Houston, TX. Electronic address: Jennifer.blumenthal-barby@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Blumenthal-Barby
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology-Neuro Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lazaridis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D035502:Trust; D035501:Uncertainty; D028761:Withholding Treatment