An ESICM Talk powered by the NEXT Committee

When deciding whether to admit a patient to the ICU, the question is not only what we can do, but what we ought to do. In this podcast, we explore the ethical complexities of ICU admission, balancing the potential benefits and burdens of intensive care, patient preferences, prognostic uncertainty, and the fair allocation of limited resources. Drawing on the concept of proportionality, we discuss how clinicians can navigate difficult decisions, manage disagreements, and ensure that the care provided is aligned with what matters most to each patient.

These themes are explored in depth in a paper co-authored by our guests: Proportionality and the process of decision-making around ICU admission: A narrative review of the ethical complexities of navigating from “can” to “ought”.