Abstract

RINCON RONCANCIO, Mónica  and  GARZON DIAZ, Fabio. ETHIC PROBLEMS ABOUT RETIREMENT OR LIMITATION OF LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS. rev.latinoam.bioet. [online]. 2015, vol.15, n.2, pp.42-51. ISSN 1657-4702.

Intensive Care Medicine experiences its best time. As Gracia says, "intensive care has come of age." Nobody questions such advances for patients that were considered hopeless days ago. However, it also gives some dizzying the change that has been made in the death management of such patients: the transition from a "natural" death to death "ruled by man." In this context, concepts take on new meaning as euthanasia, dysthanasia, futility, quality of life, dying with dignity and especially, the concept of retirement or limitation of life-sustaining treatment. This article discusses the ethical problems generated by implementing the limitations of life-sustaining treatment protocols in Intensive Care Units. The article is divided into 4 parts: 1. Terminological distinctions. 2. How to apply the limitation of life-sustaining treatment. 3. Limitation of life-sustaining treatment in special cases: pediatrics and disability. 4. The specific ethical problems of limitation of life-sustaining treatment.

Keywords : Intensive care medicine; intensive care unit; limitation of life-sustaining treatment; bioethics.

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