Hospital Policy Variation in Addressing Decisions to Withhold and Withdraw Life-Sustaining Treatment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sociodemographic disparities in physician decisions to withhold and withdraw life-sustaining treatment exist. Little is known about the content of hospital policies that guide physicians involved in these decisions.

Research question

What is the prevalence of US hospitals with policies that address withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment; how do these policies approach ethically controversial scenarios; and how do these policies address sociodemographic disparities in decisions to withhold and withdraw life-sustaining treatment?

Study design and methods

This national cross-sectional survey assessed the content of hospital policies addressing decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment. We distributed the survey electronically t

SUBMITTER: Piscitello GM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11026167 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature