A model of shared decision making at the end of life

Abstract

Decision making is a task all human beings have to face up to daily. The underlying basis for this practice is formed and marked by former experiences, every day applied or even automatized models that are never questioned. In the clinical setting, however, a critical reflexion is necessary when deciding procedures and criterias for making decisions, requiring analysis and effective and agile decisions. In our view, a highly interesting approach to tackle decisions in the ambit of the end-of-life is the Shared Decision-Making. In this paper we intend, at first, to conceptualize the most relevant variables according to that model, and then to propose a protocol to act as a facilitating tool for making difficult decisions to which the patients and their families may be exposed to.

Keywords

• Toma de decisiones compartidas
• Cuidados paliativos
• Final de vida
• Bioética