Canadian Doctors Developing Guidelines on Right Way to Withdraw Life Support

The Vancouver Sun reports that Canada’s critical care doctors are developing guidelines on best way to withdraw life support once the decision to do so has been made.



James Downar, Critical Care and Palliative Care Staff Physician at the Toronto General Hospital presented on the topic last month.  He remarked:  “I don’t think anybody could ever tell you how much pain medication someone should receive as they die. . . .  But, we undertreat symptoms because of this fear that opioids are inherently harmful and that giving opioids might shorten life.”