Ethical decision-making in intensive care: a nurse's perspective.

Technology has increased our ability to sustain life, but to what end? Ethical dilemmas abound in intensive care units (ICUs), but in the author's experience nurses are rarely formally involved in ethical decision-making. Should nurses be involved? This article is an attempt to answer this question by considering the unique position of an intensive care nurse, the stress caused by ethical dilemmas, the ethical and legal responsibilities of the nurse and the educational and psychological factors influencing the decision-making process. The current involvement of nurses in ethical decision-making is reviewed and a framework for ethical decision-making is suggested. Implications for education and practice are drawn from the discussion.