Abstract
Many years ago medicine could not offer critically ill patients very much apart from a sympathetic ear and a comforting word. Since then, thanks to technology, the art of medicine has made rapid progress. Today doctors can choose from a vast array of interventions that can keep almost anyone alive, sometimes almost indefinitely. However, despite all the attendant benefits, their greater availability and use has presented medicine and society with unprecedented ethical, legal, and economic dilemmas. The advancement of medicine has become a two-edged sword.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Anaesthesia, Pain, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine — A.P.I.C.E. |
| Subtitle of host publication | Proceedings of the 17th Postgraduate Course in Critical Care Medicine Trieste, Italy — November 15–19, 2002 Volume II |
| Editors | Antonino Gullo |
| Place of Publication | Milan |
| Publisher | Springer-Verlag Mailand |
| Pages | 1263-127 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9788847022157 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9788847001947 |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |