Palliative Care in the Intensive Care Setting: Phenomenon of Interest and Philosophic View

 The very nature of the intensive care unit (ICU) setting implies aggressive, life-sustaining treatments for all patients, no matter the cost. As the aging population grows and lives longer with chronic illness, the use of acute care medicine and ICU admissions in the last 6 months of life continues to rise (Wessman et al., 2017). According to Leung et al., 5 to 10% of chronically ill older adults with a high risk of mortality consume an average of 20-40% of an intensive care units’ resources. Consequently, when aggressive, curative treatment sustains life without regard to the quality of life, one must consider the unintended consequences of prolonging the potential pain and suffering of the dying process. Palliative care treatment should be prioritized in the ICU setting; however, many acute care providers lack the proper knowledge and support to navigate the transition from curative to comfort-based care confidently.The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the benefits of an established palliative care program in the adult ICU setting and the impact continental and analytical philosophic viewpoints have on the prevention of non-beneficial, life-sustaining treatments at end of life (EOL). Phenomenon of Interest: Significance to Practice Wessman et al. (2017) found that 80% of adults state that if they were seriously ill and their quality of life was significantly impacted, a conversation with their provider regarding EOL concerns would be desired. Yet, only 7% of patients have the opportunity to discuss their EOL preferences and palliative care treatment with their health care team. The adult patient population with chronic, life- limiting illness experience ICU admissions at EOL where they are most vulnerable to receiving invasive, non-beneficial medical care that likely does not affect their projected outcome when palliative-based management would be most appropriate. Despite their terminal trajectory, patients often receive painful, aggressive treatment up until death is imminent and only then are palliative care measures discussed (Leung et al., 2017). The discussion of the benefits of palliative care interventions should be