Journal
INDIAN JOURNAL OF CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
Volume 12, Issue 3, Pages 109-115Publisher
MEDKNOW PUBLICATIONS & MEDIA PVT LTD
DOI: 10.4103/0972-5229.43679
Keywords
ICU; life-support; questionnaire
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background and Aims: Physician beliefs and practices largely determine the withdrawal of life support in intensive care units. No information exists regarding beliefs regarding the withdrawal of life support among physicians in India. Materials and Methods: We performed a questionnaire at the NAPCON conference in Jaipur. Results: One hundred and twenty-two questionnaires were completed and returned. The majority of respondents did not apply do not resuscitate orders. Most physicians stated withdrawal of life support was not allowed or practiced at their institution. Thirty-five percent of physicians stated they performed life-support withdrawal. Barriers to good end-of-life care were primarily legal but also included hospital policy and social constraints. Conclusions: Pulmonary and critical care physicians in India have a lower rate of withdrawal of life support than western physicians. The reasons seem to be primarily legal and policy related. Culture and religion were not identi fied as barriers. Clari fication of the legal and policy status of withdrawal of life support is needed
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available