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Survey of British Clinicians'Views on Management of Patients in Persistent Vegetative State Lancet 348:35-40, Grubb,A.,et al, 1996 See this aricle in Pubmed Article Abstract 1027 doctors responded(55%)of whom 558(54%)had experience of managing patients in PVS.Over 90%of responding doctors considered that it could be appropriate not to treat acute infections and other life-threatening conditions.65%of doctors considered that withdrawal of ANH could be appropriate.About two-thirds of doctors who though treatment-limiting decisions could be appropriate thought that such decisions could be considered with the first 12 months of the patient being in PVS.Despite recent case law,less than half the doctors responding to the survey though that an advance directive made by the patient should have a decisive influence in determining treatment-limiting decisions.Most doctors would like decisions about withdrawing ANH to be made in conjunction with family members and in accordance with agree guidelines but without the need to go to court.There is a broad consensus among doctors that treatment-limiting decisions are sometimes appropriate for patients in PVS,irrespective of whether they have experience of the condition or of the specialty to which they belong.However,two thirds of doctors said that such decisions can be considered at a time earlier than that recommended by the British Medical Association.It is not clear why some doctors though a decision not to treat could be appropriate while a decision to withdraw ANH would not be.

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(click to filter results - removes previous filter) ethics in neurology life support,withdrawal of persistent vegetative state treatment of neurologic disorder

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