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Deciding not to Operate in Head Injuries and Legal Considerations  

Choi, Il (Department of Neurosurgery Soonchunhyang University Chonan Hospital)
Lee, Kyeong-Seok (Department of Neurosurgery Soonchunhyang University Chonan Hospital)
Shim, Jai-Joon (Department of Neurosurgery Soonchunhyang University Chonan Hospital)
Choi, Weon-Rim (Department of Neurosurgery Soonchunhyang University Chonan Hospital)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society / v.42, no.2, 2007 , pp. 135-140 More about this Journal
Abstract
It is not the best way to treat a hopeless patient with life-sustaining medical devices until the heart beats stop. Advanced medical technology may prolong the life for a significant period without recovery from the disease. However, it would give an unbearable economic burden to the family and the society. In 2006, we decided not to operate 9 patients with traumatic intracranial hematomas. We examined those patients with special references to possible legal and ethical problems. It is reasonable to withhold a treatment after documentation that the family never wants any life sustaining treatment when the treatment does not guarantee the meaningful life.
Keywords
Withholding treatment; Decision making; Resuscitation orders; Legislation and jurisprudence; Medical futility; Craniocerebral trauma;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
Times Cited By Web Of Science : 0  (Related Records In Web of Science)
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