Slow code: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:27, 22 April 2013

Revision as of 11:58, 3 October 2013

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{{About|the medical practice|the programming term|algorithmic efficiency}}

'''Slow code''' refers to the practice in a [[hospital]] or other medical centre to purposely respond slowly or incompletely to a patient in [[cardiac arrest]], particularly in situations where CPR is of no medical benefit.{{sfn|New York Times|1987}} The related term '''show code''' refers to the practice of a medical response that is faked for the sake of the patient's family.{{sfn|New York Times|1987}}

The practices are banned in some jurisdictions.

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A patient may request, in an advanced directive, to prohibit certain responses, including [[intubation]], chest compression, electrical [[defibrillation]], or [[Advanced cardiac life support|ACLS]].{{sfn|Dosha|Dhoblea|Evonicha|Guptaa|2009}} This is referred to as a ''partial code'' or ''partial resuscitation'' and "such resuscitation commonly violates the ethical obligation of nonmalfeasance".{{sfn|Berger|2003|p=2271}} It is regarded as medically unsound because partial interventions "are often highly traumatic and consistently inefficacious".{{sfn|ANA Center for Ethics and Human Rights|2012|p=6}}

==Practice==

Slow code is used in some response situations, particularly for which CPR is of no medical benefit. The medical staff at the facility will purposely respond slowly or incompletely to a patient in cardiac arrest.{{sfn|New York Times|1987}} When a medical response is faked for the sake of the patient's family, it is referred to as a ''show code''.{{sfn|New York Times|1987}}

==Ethics==