Abstract
In this paper, the ethical and legal issues raised by the deactivation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in patients with terminal cancer is considered. It is argued that the ICD cannot be well described either as a treatment or as a non-treatment option, and thus raises complex questions regarding how rules governing deactivation should be framed. A new category called "integral devices" is proposed. Integral devices require their own special rules, reflecting their position as a "halfway house" between a form of treatment and a part of the body. The practical problems faced by doctors working in palliative medicine with regard to the deactivation of ICDs are also considered.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 538-40 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of Medical Ethics |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2007 |
Keywords
- Defibrillators, Implantable
- Ethics, Clinical
- Humans
- Neoplasms
- Terminal Care
- Terminally Ill
- Withholding Treatment