Dr. Miguel Leal: How providers can approach end-of-life discussions about cardiac devices

Dr. Miguel Leal

A video by Medpage Today featured Miguel Leal, MD, assistant professor (CHS), Cardiovascular Medicine. Dr. Leal gave his perspective about what providers should consider when discussing end-of-life care and implantable cardiac devices with patients.

“The problem becomes when those discussions do not include a plan, an advanced directive, regarding when should the support provided by those devices no longer be indicated,” said Dr. Leal.

Consensus documents on this topic have been developed by the Heart Rhythm Society, emphasizing the need for informed consent conversations well ahead of end-of-life care.

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