[Options for the improvement of communication and self-determination in end-of-life decisions in intensive care units].

The end-of-life decision making process normally based on patient autonomy or substituted judgement. If the patient can express his/her wishes, one must take note of his autonomy. If he/she is unable to self-determination, the importance of advanced directives or substituted judgement increases in the field of end-of-life care. The most important target of the efforts is to improve end-of-life care at intensive care units. Based on bioethical studies of the author and international literature this paper analizes the practice of end-of-life care and presents recommendations for lawmakers. The author proposes to divide patients with organ failure into three parts (end-of-life triage). The first part includes definitely salvageable, the second part definitely unsalvageable, and the third part possibly salvageable groups. This classification depends on the development of medical science and the local options of medical treatment. The quality of the decision-making process can be improved, but all participants must participate and medio-legal regulation must be improved.