Preferences of Homosexual Men with AIDS for Life-Sustaining Treatment

Abstract

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) raises questions about appropriate care for patients with this incurable and progressive disease. Although individual episodes of infection and malignant disease can be treated, the underlying immune deficit cannot now be reversed. Decisions about whether to undertake life-sustaining treatment, such as mechanical ventilation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, must frequently be made. Because these decisions require value judgments and informed consent as well as technical expertise, they should be made jointly by physicians and patients.^{1 2 3} The care of patients with AIDS also illustrates the usefulness of advance directives about life-sustaining treatment. Many patients with AIDS become mentally . . .