Some U.S. hospitals weigh withholding care to Ebola patients

[Chef Ramsay]

(Reuters) - The Ebola crisis is forcing the American healthcare system to consider the previously unthinkable: withholding some medical interventions because they are too dangerous to doctors and nurses and unlikely to help a patient.

U.S. hospitals have over the years come under criticism for undertaking measures that prolong dying rather than improve patients' quality of life.

But the care of the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States, who received dialysis and intubation and infected two nurses caring for him, is spurring hospitals and medical associations to develop the first guidelines for what can reasonably be done and what should be withheld.

Officials from at least three hospital systems interviewed by Reuters said they were considering whether to withhold individual procedures or leave it up to individual doctors to determine whether an intervention would be performed.

Ethics experts say they are also fielding more calls from doctors asking what their professional obligations are to patients if healthcare workers could be at risk.

More...http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/22/us-health-ebola-usa-interventions-idUSKCN0IB2OM20141022

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[wenben]

Sound like a reasonable action to take if there is nothing we can do.

[HeroCat]

Yes, Ebola is coming. If airlines will continue to fly from Africa, Ebola will also come 

[TECSHARE]

How about these assholes FOLLOW PROPER QUARANTINE PROTOCOL, maybe they wont keep spreading this disease.  Additionally if it is so dangerous WHY THE FUCK, are infected people being allowed to fly back into the country?

[bf4btc]

I find it hard to believe that hospitals would do this. First of all it violates the oath that doctors had to take in order for them to be able to practice medicine. Secondly it is horrible public policy for them to do this.

I do think that some hospitals are better equipped to handle ebola then others, and if a hospital can be given proper notice then they can have more time to prepare

[Vod]

I wouldn't want to be left to die a slow, painful death from Ebola.

I'd ask that the hospital give me drugs to end my life faster, not prolong my suffering.

[TECSHARE]

So much for obamacare