DC Treatment
The DC Treat checkbox on the Registry page of the PDA tracks the withdrawal of treatment in dying ICU patients when appropriate.
Withdrawal of treatment is not the same as withdrawal of care. DC Treatment in an ICU setting occurs because it is often possible to maintain life for long periods of time without any hope of recovery. Intensive care is a means of supporting organ systems and it is not always curative. Prolonging the process of dying is not in the patient's best interests nor is it ethical. (Winter,B. & Cohen,S. (1999). ABC of intensive care. Withdrawal of treatment. BMJ 319, 306-308.)
When to code "DC Treat"
- when the decision is made to discontinue treatment in ICU
- even if Palliative Care (90400) is provided and coded
When not to code "DC Treat"
- "DC Treat" is not coded on Medicine wards
Additional info needed to de-stub
- Is there an expectation to see DC patients survive their ICU stay? How sure of an expectation? Can this still be checked if the patient survives? Usually DC treatment involves removing life support devices which subsequently results in death. However, occasionally the patient may survive to go to a Palliative care ward and in this event Palliative care should also be coded. --LKolesar 12:54, 8 May 2008 (CDT)