Revista médica de Chile
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The case of a pregnant patient who had a massive intracraneal haemorrhage at 18 weeks of gestation is presented. Patient's neurological damage evolved to brain death, but the fetus continued in good condition. The decision of withdrawing life support or to continue supporting the mother's life to allow fetal development aroused difficult ethical questions, both to relatives and professionals. ⋯ The conclusion was that the continuation of life support treatments was not an ethical obligation. Withdrawing life support to allow fetal death in this case means foregoing an experimental treatment and to respect family's autonomy and the right of the patient's death with dignity. Similar cases need to be discussed with a multidisciplinary analysis in their own particularity.