Anest. intenziv. Med. 2025;36(3):182-187 | DOI: 10.36290/aim.2025.033

Proposal for updating terminology in end­‑of­‑life care in intensive care units in the Czech RepublicReview Article

Maláska J.1-4*, Doležal T.5*, Kratochvíl M.1, Štourač P.1, 4, Doležal A.5, Sláma O.3, 6, Zielina M.7, Rusinová K.8, výzkumná skupina RIPE‑ICU
1 Klinika dětské anesteziologie a resuscitace, Fakultní nemocnice Brno a Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univezity, Brno
2 Interní hematologická a onkologická klinika, Fakultní nemocnice Brno a Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univezity, Brno
3 Ústav paliativní a podpůrné péče, Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univezity, Brno
4 Ústav simulační medicíny, Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univezity, Brno
5 Ústav státu a práva AV ČR, v. v. i., Praha
6 Klinika komplexní onkologické péče, Masarykův onkologický ústav a Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univezity, Brno
7 Ústav lékařské etiky a humanitních základů medicíny, 2. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy, Praha
8 Klinika paliativní medicíny, 1. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy a Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze
* tito autoři přispěli stejným dílem (sdílené prvoautorství)

End-of-life (EOL) care in intensive care units (ICUs) is a complex clinical, legal and ethical challenge where language and terminology play a critical role in supporting decision-making and interdisciplinary collaboration. This article presents a proposal for a document that responds to the need to update and unify the terminology used in EOL care in the Czech Republic. Its aim is not to redefine terms from scratch but to reflect current developments in international discourse and to align terminology with the Czech clinical, legal and ethical context. The document is the result of a consensus process using a modified Delphi method. It was developed by a multidisciplinary expert panel including intensivists, anesthesiologists, palliative care specialists, legal experts, and bioethicists, and further reviewed by an external advisory group. The outcome is a structured set of updated terms grouped into thematic areas (e.g., appropriateness of care, shared decision-making, treatment limitations) and accompanied by practical definitions. The document also provides an ethical and legal framework for EOL decision-making in ICUs an overview of appropriate terminology. It emphasizes clarity, ethical consistency, and respect for patient autonomy. Its broader goal is to support clinical and academic dialogue and to offer a foundation for future development of educational materials, practice guidelines, and legislative documents related to palliative and intensive care.

Keywords: end­‑of­‑life, intensive care, terminology, shared decision­‑making, treatment limitation, medical ethics.

Received: May 19, 2025; Revised: June 27, 2025; Accepted: July 22, 2025; Prepublished online: August 22, 2025; Published: September 30, 2025  Show citation

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Maláska J, Doležal T, Kratochvíl M, Štourač P, Doležal A, Sláma O, et al.. Proposal for updating terminology in end­‑of­‑life care in intensive care units in the Czech Republic. Anest. intenziv. Med. 2025;36(3):182-187. doi: 10.36290/aim.2025.033.
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