[Bioethics Tools in Decision-Making in the Intensive Care Unit].

Abstract

Working in Critical Care Units (CCU) is of a multidisciplinary, high-complexity nature; thus, collegiate decisions are necessary. Bioethics as a discipline in the context of pluralistic, democratic societies provides us with valuable tools for complex clinical cases. In this article, we propose the Principlism tool (Beauchamp & Childress) combined with the Deliberative Method as a major supporting tool for the resolution of these problems at CCU. Additionally, we complement that view with two other tools that consider psychosocial scope: Jonsen, Siegel Winslade, and Diego Gracia Tools. With the help of these tools, it is possible to solve most clinical cases, avoiding extreme courses of action.