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End-of-Life Issues: Management of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

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Ethical Issues in Anesthesiology and Surgery

Abstract

It has become increasingly acceptable for clinicians to disable cardiac devices placed in a patient if the patient so requests. When deactivation was first proposed, there was significant resistance. However, with the rise of patient autonomy, the recognition that quality of life is a patient judgment and the increased burdens of multiple chronic illnesses patients face as they live longer, device deactivation is a reasonable approach in end-of-life care. The three intracardiac devices (pacemaker, automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator and ventricular assist device) have different benefits, burdens and deactivation trajectories. This chapter will review the commonalities and differences and suggest some talking points when there is a request for deactivation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA

    Cynthiane J. Morgenweck MD, MA

Authors
  1. Cynthiane J. Morgenweck MD, MA
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Correspondence to Cynthiane J. Morgenweck MD, MA .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Anesthesiology, The University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Barbara G. Jericho

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Morgenweck, C.J. (2015). End-of-Life Issues: Management of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices. In: Jericho, B. (eds) Ethical Issues in Anesthesiology and Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15949-2_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15949-2_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-15948-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-15949-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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