ABSTRACT
Patients express concern about their ability to care for themselves after being discharged from the hospital. Continuum of care implies the consideration of results providing ongoing care in situations where the outcome is becoming less and less predictable as to a defined endpoint and most likely indicates the end of life. The physician in the ethical situation more than likely will be dealing not with the patient but with family and friends. Natural death applies a conceptual domain that encompasses “natural events.” Intensive care units patients are unconscious, sedated, and often ventilated, so the end-of-life discussions taken by the family acting as surrogate decision-makers. However, physicians and other members of the healthcare team tend to be more comfortable with withholding therapy than with withdrawing treatment. Once a physician determines that care is pointless, their decisions may involve withdrawal or withholding therapy.
