LIFE-SUSTAINING THERAPY: WITHHOLDING OR WITHDRAWING

Course overview

Life-sustaining therapy (more commonly referred to as life support) is a general term referring to any treatment, therapy, or medical intervention that maintains a patient’s life. Withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining therapy is the intentional action of failing to begin or discontinuing a medically appropriate and potentially life-prolonging medical treatment, therapy, or intervention. This continuing education module is designed to give the reader/learner an increased understanding of withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining therapy, including the role of the nurse clinician in promoting comfort and providing emotional support at the end of life, and to aid in caring for the patient for whom life-sustaining therapy is withdrawn. Readers may explore any or all of the topics. One contact hour of continuing education credit is available for those who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form.