Abstract

PAEZ, Gustavo. DECISIONS ON LIFE SUPPORT: ETHICAL AND SUBJECTIVE GOALS. pers.bioét. [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.1, pp.36-47. ISSN 0123-3122.  https://doi.org/10.5294/PEBI.2015.19.1.4.

Advances in biomedicine increasingly expand the possibilities of curing those who are critically ill. Decisions on what therapies to apply should consider the risk of falling into so-called therapeutic obstinacy. Although much has been written already about the fundamental criteria to be considered, there are still many questions when it comes to making decisions. Not the least of them is the need to objectify the different elements to be weighed, without forgetting there are subjective aspects that are very important as well. This article outlines the objective and subjective aspects in a combined way to strike an appropriate and practical balance that is reasonable and respects the patient's autonomy.

Keywords : bioethics; intensive care; critical care; denial of treatment; medical uselessness.

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