Document Detail


CURVES: a mnemonic for determining medical decision-making capacity and providing emergency treatment in the acute setting.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20133288     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The evaluation of medical decision-making capacity and provision of emergency treatment in the acute care setting may present a significant challenge for both physicians-in-training and attending physicians. Although absolutely essential to the proper care of patients, recalling criteria for decision-making capacity may prove cumbersome during a medical emergency. Likewise, the requirements for providing emergency treatment must be fulfilled. This article presents a mnemonic (CURVES: Choose and Communicate, Understand, Reason, Value, Emergency, Surrogate) that addresses the abilities a patient must possess in order to have decision-making capacity, as well as the essentials of emergency treatment. It may be used in conjunction with, or in place of, lengthier capacity-assessment tools, particularly when time is of the essence. In addition, the proposed tool assists the practitioner in deciding whether emergency treatment may be administered, and in documenting medical decisions made during an acute event.
Authors:
Grant V Chow; Matthew J Czarny; Mark T Hughes; Joseph A Carrese
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Chest     Volume:  137     ISSN:  1931-3543     ISO Abbreviation:  Chest     Publication Date:  2010 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-02-05     Completed Date:  2010-03-11     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0231335     Medline TA:  Chest     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  421-7     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224-2780, USA. gchow2@jhmi.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acute Disease
Aged, 80 and over
Clinical Competence
Decision Making*
Emergencies*
Female
Humans
Intubation, Intratracheal / methods*
Male
Middle Aged
Positive-Pressure Respiration / methods*
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / therapy*
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / therapy*
Time Factors
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Chest. 2010 Feb;137(2):248-50   [PMID:  20133285 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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