Heart Pump Heats Up Ethical Dilemma Regarding End-of-Life Care

An article in the Washington Post last week brought to our attention the ethical dilemma that left-ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are creating in end-of-life care. The LVAD pump is implanted near the heart and attached to one of the main pumping chambers and the aorta, the main artery supplying blood to the body. It's used as a last resort for heart failure patients who's hearts can no longer pump blood effectively on their own.

LVADs were originally intended to be "bridge" devices, keeping patients stable until heart surgery or a heart transplant could be performed. The pumps have been used more recently as long term assist devices, prolonging a patients life who would otherwise die without it.

The ethical dilemma surrounds how to proceed once a patient has had enough and wants the pump turned off or removed. Advances in medical technology, like the LVAD, have accelerated faster than our societies ability to deal with the issues they raise.

Read the Washington Post's article then share your thoughts on LVADs and the ethical issues they raise.

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