Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology
Volume 20, Issue 4 , Pages 589-603, December 2006

Ethics and law in the intensive care unit☆

  • C.M. Danbury (Consultant Intensivist and Clinical Research Fellow in Medical Law)

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.

Intensive Care Unit, Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, Reading, RG1 5AN, UK

University of Reading, UK

Royal Berkshire Hospital, UK

Intensive Care Medicine epitomises the difficulties inherent in modern medicine. In this chapter we examine some key medicolegal and ethical areas that are evolving. The principles of autonomy and consent are well established, but developments in UK caselaw have shown that the courts may be moving away from their traditional deference of the medical profession. We examine some recent cases and discuss the impact that these cases may have on practice in Intensive Care.

Key words: best interests, consent/refusal of consent, relatives rights, futility, withdrawal of care, law, ethics, intensive care

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☆ [Some of the work in the Chapter is based on a thesis written by Dr C M Danbury for the degree of MPhil in Medical Law at Glasgow University].

PII: S1521-6896(06)00058-9

doi:10.1016/j.bpa.2006.10.002

Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology
Volume 20, Issue 4 , Pages 589-603, December 2006

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