Aust Crit Care
-
End-of-life decision making in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), can be emotionally challenging and multifaceted. Doctors and nurses are sometimes placed in a precarious position where they are required to make decisions for patients who may be unable to participate in the decision-making process. There is an increasing frequency of the need for such decisions to be made in ICU, with studies reporting that most ICU deaths are heralded by a decision to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment. ⋯ Further research is warranted to address the need for a more comprehensive, standardised approach to support clinicians (medical and nursing) in end-of-life decision making in the ICU.