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The Application of Modern Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques to Aged Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2008

Helen Kapila  and
Nicholas Coni
Helen Kapila
Affiliation:
Consultant Physician, Medicine for the Elderly, Peterborough, England
Nicholas Coni
Affiliation:
Consultant Physician, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, England
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Abstract

The availability of high technology designed to preserve human life, places medical practitioners in a set of ethical dilemmas. In particular the use of Intensive Care Units to sustain acutely seriously ill elderly people is a matter of widespread debate. An examination of the medical research literature suggests that such interventions are largely successful and wished for by the patient, but the quality of surviving life is for some, unacceptable. It is concluded that the maintance of life should remain the predominant rule, but that where patient and clinical judgement indicates it, death should be accepted as the natural course.

Type
Forum
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , June 1989 , pp. 165 - 177
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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References

NOTES

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