Análisis de una experiencia de consultoría ético clínica en cuidado intensivo / Analysis of a clinical ethics consultation experience in intensive care

Background: Very few patients are presented to ethics committees, and individual ethics consultations are a response to this situation. At the intensive care unit (ICU) in Clínica Alemana, Santiago Chile, an ethics consultation system was organized coordinated with the ethics committee. Aim: To report an evaluation of this ethics consultation system. Material and Methods: Analysis of the frst 50 cases analyzed in the consultation system. Analysis of the responses of intensive care physicians to a questionnaire about the main ethical problems that they face in their work. Results: The consultation system is mainly required by the ICU staff, and reports to the ethics committee. Fifty four percent of patients subjected to consultation were aged over 80 years. The main diagnoses were neurological, oncological or cardiopulmonary problems. The ethical problems identifed were treatment limitation (62 percent), proportionality or futility (42 percent), need of a peaceful death (36 percent), lack of anticipated decisions (28 percent), disagreement between physicians and patient’s family (24 percent), undefined subrogation (14 percent), and abuse of public resources (14 percent). Twenty six of 31 ICU physicians answered the questionnaire, using a 1 (min) to 7 (max.) scale. They found that consultation is helpful for decision making (6.3), useful for improving ethical perception (6.0), supportive for staff (6.5), good for patients (6.3), supportive for families (6.7), and timely performed (5.2). Conclusions: As a complement for the ethics committee’s work, consultation is a valid alternative for ethics counselling and a support for physicians and patient’s families. Its implementation depends on the particularities of each health institution.

Tres factores que influyen en la actitud de las personas ante la donación de órganos: [revisión] / Three influencing factors in people's attitude towards organ donation: [revision]

Se analiza la donación de órganos de cadáver para trasplantes a partir de tres postulados: 1) la influencia de la religión en la donación, particularmente del catolicismo; 2) la organización del sistema de información y acercamiento al donante y su familia, y 3) la formación personal de los miembros del equipo de salud. En la religión se encuentra una disociación entre la norma moral propuesta y la visión de los fieles. España, con su modelo de la Organización Nacional de Trasplantes, es el referente con una alta tasa de donación de órganos y gran credibilidad social en el sistema. El último postulado hace referencia a la importancia de contar con profesionales especialmente capacitados en la materia y en habilidades de comunicación. Se plantea la necesidad de tomar medidas administrativas y educativas que abarquen los puntos discutidos, con el fin de promover eficazmente la donación y aumentar el éxito de los programas de trasplante.

Cadaver organ donation for transplants is analyzed based on three factors: 1) Religious influence. The Catholic Church, as well as other Christian churches, accept transplants and organ donation as a sign of generosity; 2) An efficient information system for donors and families is necessary for obtaining potential donors; 3) The training of all members of the health team, and their personal views are of great importance to donors and family's decisions. There is a dissociation between religious moral principies and believer's perceptions. Spain, with its National Transplant Organization, has become the main point of reference, having a high rate of organs donation and great credibility. The third factor emphasizes the importance of having well trained professionals with the highest communication skills. Educational and management measures are needed for more successful organ donation and transplant programs.