📌 About the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision System

What is the life-sustaining treatment decision system?

∨ When a patient is in the process of dying,

∨ it is a system that supports a dignified end of life by allowing a decision not to carry out, or to discontinue, medical procedures that have no therapeutic effect.

Life-sustaining procedures that may be discontinued: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, haemodialysis, administration of anticancer drugs, mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal life support, transfusion, administration of vasopressors and others.

Procedure for a life-sustaining treatment decision (withholding or withdrawal)

▶ Step 1: Determining that the patient is in the process of dying

▶ Step 2: Confirming the decision of the patient or the patient’s family

▶ Step 3: Withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment — life-sustaining treatment for that patient is either not carried out (withheld) or discontinued.