Home › Healthcare Services › Heart & Critical Care Services › Critical Care Center › A Family's Guide to the Elkhart General Critical Care and Regional Heart Center › Choices Regarding Life Support
What is life support? Life support involves specialized equipment or treatment that replaces or supports a failing bodily function. In treatable or curable conditions, it is used temporarily until the body can carry on normal functioning. In conditions where a cure is not possible, life support may prolong life and possibly suffering.
A treatment may be of value if it relieves pain, restores function, or enhances the quality of life. The same action could be considered harmful if it causes pain or prolongs the dying process without offering help, which may reduce a person's quality of life.
The choice to use or not to use life support is an individual one.
DISCLAIMER: Information presented through this medium (i.e., the Elkhart General Healthcare System Web Site) is provided for general information only and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. For diagnosis of specific illnesses and disorders, consult the appropriate healthcare professionals.
Join our team and discover why our employees love working at EGH.
Have a health question? Need to find a doctor? Registered Nurses will help 8am to 8pm, Monday - Friday,
Call (888) 344-6773 or email ask@egh.org.
© 2005 Elkhart General Healthcare System 600 East Boulevard, Elkhart, IN 46514 | (574) 294-2621
All Rights Reserved.
Disclamer & Privacy Notice |
Authorization for Use or Disclosure |
Site Map |
Website design by LightSky
Administrative Login