Case study: reflections of a critical care nurse on futile treatment

Abstract

End-of-life decision making a common ethical problem in clinical practice within critical care settings. However, in our experience, decision making is dominated by physicians with low participation of nurses, the patient and family members.This article presents a case study in which professional conflict arose about the appropriateness of medical treatment, when a patient was not expected to survive.Treatment is defined as futile when it does not accomplish its intended goal, that is, to provide a beneficial physiological effect.Nurses should uphold the Code of Ethics and maintain the moral integrity. As patients' advocates, nurses should enhance the collaborative relationships with other health care professionals in order to reach moral consensus in the interest of good patient care.In the setting of end-of-life care, up to date knowledge - especially in the area of ethics - and competent communication skills are essential to provide high quality care.