Ethical questions in the treatment of spinal cord injured patients

Abstract

Modern medicine has greatly benefitted spinal cord injured patients. The daily process of their rehabilitation, however, creates serious ethical problems, which the clinician attempts to solve using a humanistic, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach. We present some of those conflicts, especially those caused by the survival of totally dependent patients and those related to our communication with the patient and his family. © 1987 International Medical Society of Paraplegia.