Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

2 results

  • 26 - Opioid therapy in addicted patients:

  • from 3 - Pain management
  • Edited by Gail A. Van Norman, University of Washington, Stephen Jackson, Stanley H. Rosenbaum, Susan K. Palmer
  • Book: Clinical Ethics in Anesthesiology
  • Published online: 05 March 2012
  • Print publication: 28 October 2010, pp 154-160

  • Summary

    This chapter presents a case study on an 86-year-old retired accountant, experiencing worsening symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure. The patient clearly understood and accepted the balance of benefits versus risks, and gave informed consent to the procedure. Offering the operation is respectful of the ethical principle of autonomy. The patient's primary goals were to improve his functionality and reduce his symptoms even with a substantial risk of dying. The chapter discusses questions that need to be addressed when the outcome of the intervention is poor and the possibilities of achieving the patient's stated goals are virtually nil. The focus should be on the overall trend and not the minor ups and downs of vital signs, drug infusion rates, ventilatory settings, etc. It is important to recognize that it will take time, perhaps days, for the family to grasp the lack of improvement or deterioration in the patient's condition.