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Ethics in Geriatric Trauma

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Geriatric Trauma and Critical Care

Abstract

Ethical principles that underlie contemporary surgical care of the elderly are founded on principles of medicine originating with the Hippocratic Oath: non-maleficence, beneficence, autonomy, and justice. Caring for the geriatric trauma patient may be particularly challenging as this is a vulnerable and sometimes frail patient population often with limited decision-making capacity. This chapter explores the ethical principles that form the cornerstones of geriatric trauma care, outlines the consent process and determination of decision-making capacity, and discusses the concept of DNR and medical futility.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Rutgers – New Jersey Medical School, 150 Bergen Street Room M-229, Newark, NJ, 07101, USA

    Anastasia Kunac MD, FACS

  2. Department of Surgery, Rutgers – New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA

    Anne C. Mosenthal MD, FACS

Authors
  1. Anastasia Kunac MD, FACS
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  2. Anne C. Mosenthal MD, FACS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne C. Mosenthal MD, FACS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Lincoln Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA

    Jay A. Yelon

  2. Department of Surgery, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA

    Fred A. Luchette

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Kunac, A., Mosenthal, A.C. (2014). Ethics in Geriatric Trauma. In: Yelon, J., Luchette, F. (eds) Geriatric Trauma and Critical Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8501-8_37

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8501-8_37

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-8500-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-8501-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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