Dictionary definition of “terminal wean”

terminal wean

n. the intentional reduction of medical life-support, especially mechanical or supplemental respiration, that permits a patient to die. Subjects: English, Medical

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Citations: 1992 Robert Zussman Intensive Care : Medical Ethics and the Medical Profession (July 15) p. 109: In twelve cases they performed a procedure called, in only mildly obscurantist language, a “terminal wean.“ (Although neither doctors nor nurses literally “pull the plug,“ the process is dramatic enough. After a doctor or, more often, a nurse turns down the respirator setting, death usually follows quickly, most often in an hour or two.) 1995 Dean Gianakos Chest (Nov. 1) “Terminal weaning. (from ventilator therapy)” vol. 108, no. 5, p. 1405: Physicians often withdraw patients from mechanical ventilators when therapy has been judged futile or the patient requests discontinuation. Withdrawal occurs in two ways: physicians either extubate patients immediately or wean them over a period of hours (terminal weaning). 1997 John M. Luce Western Journal of Medicine (Dec. 1) “Withholding and withdrawal of life support from critically ill patients” vol. 167, no. 6, p. 411: Of physicians who withdrew ventilators, 33% preferred the gradual withdrawal of supplemental oxygen and positive end-expiratory pressure treatment before removing the ventilator, a process called terminal weaning. 2004 Nell Boyce U.S. News & World Report (Jan. 12) “Science calls at the deathbed” vol. 136, no. 1, p. 50: They cover studies on both brain-dead people and “terminal wean” patients, who still have brain function but will die soon after being taken off life support. 2005 Marc Lallanilla ABC News (U.S.) (Mar. 21) “Most End-of-Life Cases Avoid Courtrooms”: Ending the care of a patient—also known as “terminal wean”—is a decision made daily in most hospitals.

Posted 22 Mar 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

my dad had a massive stroke 4-1-08 and was on life support and was not responive for 3 months and on july 4 2008 we decided to terminal wean and i thank god that he made doctors that invented that way for my dad to stop suffering it was a very peaceful death for my daddy he was in such pain

by marcia martin 24 Sep 08, 0405 GMT