Álvarez-de la Cadena-Sillas, Jorge; Rangel-Alvarado, Miguel Ángel; Asensio-Lafuente, Enrique; Hernández-García, Lillian

ABSTRACT

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a global health problem that requires, in many cases, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillation (AED). Generally, it is initiated by a witness and continued by trained personnel. Many of the patients who suffer from SCD have a history of cardiac problems, and the decision to start CPR bystander must be made in seconds, which entails medical and bioethical decisions. Some of these decisions involve not only the initial rescuer but also health personnel and the family, and everyone must be conscious that a patient's death is possible. The objective of this paper is to mention the main bioethical considerations that are directly related to CPR, both the people who receive it and those who administer it in the context of SCD.

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