Ethical analysis of withdrawing ventricular assist device support.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To describe a series of patients with heart failure supported with a ventricular assist device (VAD) who requested (or whose surrogates requested) withdrawal of VAD support and the legal and ethical aspects pertaining to these requests.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, from March 1, 2003, through January 31, 2009, who requested (or whose surrogates requested) withdrawal of VAD support and for whom the requests were fulfilled. We then explored the legal and ethical permissibility of carrying out such requests.

Results

The median age of the 14 patients identified (13 men, 1 woman) was 57 years. Requests were made by 2 patients and 12 surrogates. None of the patients' available advan

SUBMITTER: Mueller PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2931614 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature