Vnitr Lek 2010, 56(7):681-685

Survival and quality of life in burns

R. Königová

Prague Burn Centre, 3rd Medical Faculty Charles University and Teaching Hospital Královské Vinohrady Prague, head prim. MUDr. Ludomír Brož

Advances in medical technology and practices have been associated with increasing medical specialization, but they have developed at a price. This price has included not only enormous financial costs, but the additional cost of dehumanized patient care, diminished confidence in the medical staff and, consequently, human suffering. Burn injuries are catastrophic in scope and require specialized, intensive and prolonged treatment from which ensure ethical and psychological problems often complicated by many individual factors. Some of them arising from the Code of Patients Rights not only in the Czech Republic and contribute to DNR decisions (do-not-resuscitate). Not only "Quantity" of life but also "Quality" of life should be considered, particularly in burns. Critical factor is age. In old patients more sophisticated medical knowledge and practice may actually contribute to suffering. At any age scarring represents a special type of disfigurement. The "burn image" is more likely to evoke public avoidance than sympathy. The non handicapped by their negative attitudes help create and perpetuate the handicap and the consequent burden of suffering in burn patients.

Keywords: ethical problems in burns; geriatric burns; paediatric burns; quality of life; futile treatment; DNR orders

Received: May 24, 2010; Published: July 1, 2010  Show citation