Ethical and legal issues in intensive care

The findings of the SUPPORT study the largest, most comprehensive and costly study ever undertaken on decision making for critically iii patients, revealed a wide ranging gap between patient preferences and physician behavior with regard to treatment decisions for seriously ill patients. The ethical issues raised by that disparity are intensified as we enter into a market-driven managed care delivery system. This essay explores recent ethical and legal developments on several emerging issues: the decision making process; DNR orders; brain death; withdrawal of treatment, physician assisted suicide; and the constraints of managed care.