[Ethics and coma]

Abstract

Advances in intensive care enable certain comatose patients to be kept alive, with the risk of them developing serious neurological sequelae. Ethical problems are therefore raised in the acute stage, with questions relating to the continuation of complex intensive care in a non-autonomous patient whose neurological condition remains unstable. The accuracy of the prognosis during the care may give rise to the possibility, in the event of an unfavourable evolution, of limiting or stopping treatments. This decision must take into account the family, be discussed collectively and assumed by the whole nursing team.

Keywords: coma; disability; ethics; famille; family; handicap; limitation des thérapeutiques; limitation of treatments; éthique.