What is Life Support?

Life support systems are designed to provide basic care for those who are in critical condition and whose systems are failing or on the verge of failure due to a serious illness, injury, or other medical issue. Such systems are typically used to maintain a person’s vital signs, breathing, fluid levels, and other essential needs. Life support is typically provided in an intensive care unit or the operating room, but can be provided in other settings or in the home, depending on the patient’s condition.

Life Support: The Basics

The primary focus of life-support systems is to keep a patient alive, regardless of their condition. This includes the use of mechanical and pharmaceutical support, such as ventilators, dialysis, and IVs, to restore and maintain a person’s ability to breathe, circulate blood and other vital bodily fluids, and to provide vital nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. In some cases, life-support systems also provide basic nutrition, such as food and water, though it is typically provided orally.

Life Support & Ethics

When it comes to life support, the basic ethics of care comes into play. As with all aspects of health care, the patient has the right to make their own decisions regarding the appropriateness of life support, in particular what type and duration of life support is best for them. A healthcare team must consider the patient’s values and wishes and work collaboratively to create a plan of care that is ethically appropriate for the individual and the situation. Additionally, it is important to recognize that the decision to use or not use life-support systems is not made lightly. Families and medical staff must take into account the patient’s prognosis and whether the quality of life expected under continued life support is consistent with the patient’s wishes and quality of life objectives. In the end, life support systems are both a privilege and a responsibility – they should be used to benefit, not harm, those who need it.