07/28/2026
Congratulations to MacLean Center faculty members, Dr. Vollbrecht and Dr. Parker, on their recent publication, "Slow Life Support for Imminently Dying Patients" in JAMA.
The authors examine "slow life support," in which clinicians unilaterally withhold major interventions like ECMO or kidney replacement therapy, or cap the intensity of ongoing treatments like vasopressors, when they believe recovery is impossible but full withdrawal cannot be negotiated with patients or surrogates. Drawing a parallel to the ethical debate over slow codes, they find this practice becomes deceptive and inequitable when undisclosed, particularly given evidence that such decisions are prone to bias against historically marginalized groups. The authors argue that clinicians should instead practice transparent disclosure and informed assent, explaining why an intervention is withheld and what ceiling of care is being offered, instead of concealing individualized limits behind an appearance of standard practice.
Read more about the MacLean Center faculty's research at the link in bio.
