Deactivating Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Letters1 November 2005Deactivating Implantable Cardioverter DefibrillatorsHeather M. Ross, MS, APRN, NPHeather M. Ross, MS, APRN, NPFrom St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-143-9-200511010-00015 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Berger (1) raises the important issue of advances in technology outstripping advances in ethical decision-making practices. His comparison of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) deactivation with hemodialysis discontinuation is valuable in helping to clarify the issues inherent in decisions to remove active and invasive therapies. I am very concerned, however, about the parallel drawn between deactivation of an ICD and deactivation of a permanent pacemaker. The nature of implanted cardiac devices and their functions related to the dying process are inherently different and must be considered as such. An ICD delivers therapy to terminate a life-threatening arrhythmia by ...Reference1. Berger JT. The ethics of deactivating implanted cardioverter defibrillators. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:631-4. [PMID: 15838070] LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe Ethics of Deactivating Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillators Jeffrey T. Berger Deactivating Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators James M. Beattie , Michael J. Connolly , and John E. Ellershaw Deactivating Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators Joanne Lynn Deactivating Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators Jeffrey T. Berger Metrics Cited ByEthical issues on defibrillator deactivation in end-of-life patients 1 November 2005Volume 143, Issue 9Page: 690KeywordsArrhythmiaCardiac electrophysiologyConflicts of interestEuthanasiaHeartHomicide ePublished: 1 November 2005 Issue Published: 1 November 2005 CopyrightCopyright © 2005 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...