An article examines when critical care becomes futile, and a study finds that patients arriving in ambulances receive treatment quicker than patients who arrived in private cars. Copies of articles are available from the Washington Office of the American College of Emergency Physicians. According to the study, older drivers were more likely to be cited for failure to yield and disregarding traffic signals or signs. They also were more likely to be killed or hospitalized than younger drivers, although they were less likely to be involved in crashes related to drugs and alcohol or high speeds. Further research is needed to design, implement, and evaluate countermeasures that may enable older drivers to continue driving while keeping public safety in the forefront.
Older persons are the fastest growing age group in the United States.
According to the Census Bureau, the number of Americans age 65 and older will double by the year 2050. Others prefer not to receive these types of interventions. Unfortunately, in most cases, the wishes of the patient regarding technology and aggressive therapies are unknown. This dilemma poses unique challenges to the emergency physician, because of the critical and time-sensitive nature of these types of decisions. Emergency physicians should strive to base their treatment decisions on well-established research results, patient and family wishes, and professional judgment about the likelihood of benefit.