Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices and End-of-Life Care: An Australian Perspective.
Cardiac implantable electronic devices (pacemakers and defibrillators) are increasingly common in modern cardiology practice, and health professionals from a variety of specialties will encounter patients with such devices on a frequent basis. This article will focus on the subset of patients who may request, or be appropriate for, device deactivation and discuss the issues surrounding end-of-life decisions, along with the ethical and legal implications of device deactivation.
Department of Cardiology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Nasser J
NJ
Alhammad
Department of Cardiology, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Mark
M
O'Donnell
Department of Cardiology, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
David
D
O'Donnell
Department of Cardiology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Justin A
JA
Mariani
University of Queensland and Department of Cardiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Qld., Australia.
Paul A
PA
Gould
Department of Cardiology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia. Electronic address: Andrew.McGavigan@sa.gov.au.
Andrew D
AD
McGavigan
D001315:Australia; D058409:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D006801:Humans; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*
Cardiac electronic implantable devices; End-of-life; Implantable defibrillators; Pacemakers; Palliative care