751 Quality of Life as a Decision Criterion on Health Care (Ethical Ponderation)

The “Quality of Life”, although to be a subjective concept, is frequently used as criterion in the resolution of problems of the clinical practice, nominated in situations of ethical dilemmas in pediatric intensive care units, being able to take the orientation directions that do not dignify the human being. One of the aims of this research is to perceive as “Quality of Life” criterion is used in the resolution of ethical dilemmas in the clinical practice, having for purpose that the health professionals became aware on the use of this criterion and the potential effects of its use in the clinical practice. 152 nurses, attending post-graduation courses in the Oporto High School of Nursing had been inquired about the professional situations where they have been collated with decisions based on the “quality of life” and about the appreciation of the ethical questions raised by these decisions. After content analysis was verified that the told situations are centered in diverse areas as surgical and therapeutic decisions, do not reanimate orders, institution of measures of life advanced support, decisions on internment/ discharge and the nursing care plan, among others, and excites questions that are related to bioethical principles: autonomy, justice, beneficence, nonharming, human being dignity and respect, among others, and still with attitudes morally improper as the excessive therapy and the lack of attention to the rights of the sick people. The predominance of its occurrence seems to do itself with the situations of intensive and end of life care.