Neurobioethics and bioethics in the severe oncology patient with neurological complications

Abstract

Introduction: Clinical outcomes after a neurological emergency result worse for cancer patients and may result in critical illness requiring admission to the Intensive Care Unit. Neurobioethics and bioethics are effective tools to understand and provide the best care for this type of patient.Objective: to reflect on elements of interest related to bioethics and neurobioethics in the oncological patient with neurological complications.Development: neurobioethics is a scientific discipline derived from a multidisciplinary approach based on bioethics, which is applied to ethical questions regarding its ontology and its teleological organicity for human life. In the severe neuro-oncological patient, devoid of any integral neurological function due to central nervous system involvement, neurobioethics applies scientific knowledge and ethical behavior to medical care, responding to the neurocritical patient.Conclusions: comprehensive care of patients with cancer and severe neurological involvement requires scientific, ethical and moral knowledge that allows the application of the best therapeutic strategy, human and family care, and short- and long-term prognosis. Neurobioethics promises these tools while providing these patients with respect, compassion, care and empathy. However, it still needs further studies involving this discipline in neuro-oncologic intensive care.