Limitation of the therapeutic effort

• Published in: Revista clínica espanõla Vol. 212; no. 3; p. 134
• Main Authors: Herreros, B, Palacios, G, Pacho, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Aged; Heart Arrest - therapy; Humans; Male; Withholding Treatment - ethics
• ISSN: 1578-1860
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rce.2011.04.016

The limitation of the therapeutic effort (LTE) consists in not applying extraordinary or disproportionate measures for therapeutic purposes that are proposed for a patient with poor life prognosis and/or poor quality of life. There are two types. The first is to not initiate certain measures or to withdraw them when they are established. A decision of the LTE should be based on some rigorous criteria, so that we make the following proposal. First, it is necessary to know the most relevant details of the case to make a decision: the preferences of the patient, the preferences of the family when pertinent, the prognosis (severity), the quality of life and distribution of the limited resources. After, the decision should be made. In this phase, participatory deliberation should be established to clarify the end of the intervention. Finally, if it is decided to perform an LTE, it should be decided how to do it. Special procedures, disproportionate measures, that are useless and vain should not be initiated for the therapeutic objective designed (withdraw them if they have been established). When it has been decided to treat a condition (interim measures), the treatment should be maintained. This complex phase may need stratification of he measures. Finally, the necessary palliative measures should be established.