À propos d'un cas d'arrêt d'oxygénothérapie chez un malade agonique en détresse respiratoire

A patient in an advanced stage of a pleural mesothelioma limited to palliative treatment suddenly developed an acute pulmonary oedema due to aspiration of gastric content. Standard course of treatment was performed while deep sedation was prescribed in order to relieve pain and discomfort from this respiratory distress syndrome. Unfortunately, no improvement was noticed after eight hours of treatment. In this context, treatment by oxygen administration appeared as an unreasonable therapeutic obstinacy. It was then stopped after a collegial decision was made. This work is about the French legal framework (2005 Law of patient's rights at the end of life) as well as about the ethical issues in such a clinical situation.