ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
Intensivists' ethical perceptions about decisions to withhold or withdraw treatment: A clinical ethics empirical investigation
Authors' conclusion
The study results allow for recognition of intensivists' moral distress about Wh&Wd decisions and open new perspectives to deal with their deep-rooted variability, most notably by working on the rationale and format of the collegial decision-making procedure.
Study context
- Population
- Intensivists of different ages and levels of professional experience in seven ICUs of the Paris Hospital Trust (AP-HP)
- Participants
- 44 participants · 7 ICUs
- Exposure
- Passive and unproblematic vs Active and problematic vs Active and unproblematic
- Outcome
- Intensivists' ethical perceptions about decisions to withhold and/or withdraw treatment (Wh&Wd)
Methodological detailsretrospective, multicentre, in-depth interviews, grounded theory-inspired, thematic analysis
- Retrospective
- Multicentre
- In-depth interviews
- Grounded theory-inspired
- Thematic analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Ethical perceptions of Wh&Wd decisions
- Perceptions vary along two continuous dimensions: active/passive and ethically problematic/unproblematic
- Three groups identified: Wh&Wd decisions as passive and unproblematic, active and problematic, or active and unproblematic
- Groups differ in role of consensus in collegial decision-making, withholding vs withdrawing difference, and definition of own overarching professional goal
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Intensivists' ethical perceptions about decisions to withhold or withdraw treatment: A clinical ethics empirical investigation. J Crit Care. Published 19 October 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →