This volume explores how the scarce resources of intensive care units should be distributed. Three hypothetical patients, each with a different chance of survival, desire intensive care. A multinational panel of experienced critical care physicians offers assessments of the patients' conditions and outlines approaches to treatment. These approaches are then examined by academic medical experts and a medical ethicist, as well as from a legal perspective. The result is a well-rounded and introspective look at care for critically ill patients at or near the end of life.

Talking to patients and their families about end-of-life issues can be difficult and stressful. This book looks at ways different cultures view death and then further explores how health care providers around the world communicate about such sensitive issues as withholding or withdrawing life support and discussing options when the outcome is uncertain. By offering a better understanding of cultural differences in attitudes about death and methods of communications about end-of-life issues, the coverage in this important book helps prepare healthcare practitioners to be better communicators both within and outside of their own cultures.

Talking to patients and their families about end-of-life issues can be difficult and stressful. This book looks at ways different cultures view death and then further explores how health care providers around the world communicate about such sensitive issues as withholding or withdrawing life support and discussing options when the outcome is uncertain. By offering a better understanding of cultural differences in attitudes about death and methods of communications about end-of-life issues, the coverage in this important book helps prepare healthcare practitioners to be better communicators - both within and outside of their own cultures.

This volume explores how the scarce resources of intensive care units should be distributed. Three hypothetical patients, each with a different chance of survival, desire intensive care. A multinational panel of experienced critical care physicians offers assessments of the patients' conditions and outlines approaches to treatment. These approaches are then examined by academic medical experts and a medical ethicist, as well as from a legal perspective. The result is a well-rounded and introspective look at care for critically ill patients at or near the end of life.