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 pat ients, revealed a wide ranging gap between patient preferences and phy sician behavior with regard to treatment decisions for seriously ill p atients. The ethical issues raised by that disparity are intensified a s we enter into a market-driven managed care delivery system. This ess ay explores recent ethical and legal developments on several emerging issues: the decision making process; DNR orders; brain death; withdraw al of treatment, physician assisted suicide; and the constraints of ma naged care.