[Not Available].

The process recommendations of the Ethics Section of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI) for ethically based decision-making in intensive care medicine are intended to create the framework for a structured procedure for seriously ill patients in intensive care. The processes require appropriate structures, e.g.

[Dealing with coercion in intensive care medicine : Recommendations from the Ethics Section of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI) in collaboration with the Ethics Section of the German Society for Internal Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DGIIN)].

The treatment situation in intensive care is characterised by a specific asymmetry in the relationship between patients and the team: Patients are particularly dependent on their environment and often show impaired consciousness and capacity to consent. This facilitates the use of coercion or enables and/or provokes it. The aim of this recommendation is to show ways to recognise patients with their wishes and needs and to integrate them into treatment concepts in the intensive care unit in order to reduce and avoid coercion whenever possible.

[Ethical challenge in palliative support of intensive care patients].

Intensive care medicine and palliative care medicine were considered for a long time to be contrasting concepts in therapy. While intensive care medicine is directed towards prolonging life and tries to stabilize disordered body functions, palliative care medicine is focused upon the relief of disturbances to help patients in the face of death. Today both views have become congruent.

[Economy and ethics in daily hospital routine - physicians in conflict between the well-being of patients and profitability].

Medical decision making is affected by different aims and influencing factors. Nowadays economic aspects are so important that they influence the structure of hospitals, the number and quality of personnel, and the treatment and care of patients. This leads to conflicts with moral aims, especially when the necessary service cannot be provided due to financial reasons or when doubtful offers are supposed to increase revenues.