Can the limits of intensive care management be defined?
Schubert JK; Nldge-Schomburg GF Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivtherapie, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Rostock. jochen.schubert@med.uni-rostock.de Medical treatment requires more than the application of techniques and devices. Knowing the limitations of (intensive) care and respecting patients’ will and dignity is as important as technical skills. Limitations of therapy may arise from medical, ethical, legal, and economic reasons. Therapy may be limited through a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order, or by withholding or withdrawal of treatment. Total withdrawal of treatment ensues from proven brain death when organ donation has been denied or has been accomplished. But legislation as well as ethics and medical science fail to define unequivocal and precise criteria for limitation of treatment. Depending on the kind of disease, its prognosis and the patient’s individual situation clinical scenarios can be identified when withholding or withdrawal of treatment may
