[An ethical decision-making tool. Training for decision-making in crisis or end-of-life situations]

Abstract

We developed a patient-centered decision making tool to help healthcare teams make ethical decisions in crisis or end-of-life situations. This tool is the fruit of 15 years of healthcare experience and discussions on ethical issues with patients suffering from cancer, severe handicaps or terminal disease. It has been enriched by experience acquired since the publication of earlier work in the nineties. A three-step decision-making process is proposed providing a methodic aid for management decisions which remain unique for each individual patient.