Who decides in withdrawal of treatment in a critical care setting? A case study on ethical dilemma.
Chunmei Lyu, Li Zhang
PMID 31406841WHAT IT FOUND
A ventilated ICU patient asked staff to remove the ventilator because he could no longer bear it.
Staff honoured his request. His family refused withdrawal, then stayed with him until he died. It is not outcome evidence.
Key findings
01The patient told staff he wanted the ventilator removed and said he could no longer bear it.
02The health professionals chose to respect his decision to withdraw treatment.
03His family refused withdrawal, then remained by his side until he died.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This is a patient case and ethical analysis, so it cannot show what usually happens or what works. There is no comparison group, blinding, or measured clinical outcome. It focuses on a specific cultural context and a specific patient's wishes, so it may not apply to other families, settings, or laws. The reported results are narrative actions taken by the team, not evidence of efficacy.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The research received no specific grant from any funding agency.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that withdrawing treatment produces good outcomes or that nurses should always override family wishes. It is a case report and an ethical argument, not a trial or outcome study.