Table 1

Contrasting medical decision-making in resource-adequate versus resource-poor situations

Limiting medical care
Resource-adequate situation
Resource-poor situation

Focus
Patient autonomy
Community needs
Relationships
Caregivers invested with family
Caregivers unknown to family
Patient condition
End of life
NOT at end of life
Decision made
Days to weeks
Hours
Prior care
Exhaustive
Little to none
Subjective inputs
Critical
Minimal
Key decision-maker
Family and caregivers
'Triage' physician or team

Hick et al. Critical Care 2007 11:217   doi:10.1186/cc5929