The machine, called ECMO, removes carbon dioxide from the blood and replaces it with oxygen, performing the work of the heart and lungs outside the body, keeping the patient alive.
ECMO has been increasingly used in cases like replacing lungs damaged by COVID-19, leading to remarkable recoveries after long durations on the machine.
Despite its life-saving capabilities, ECMO raises concerns about prolonged suffering, futility, and the ethical dilemmas it poses when patients do not recover, creating new challenges for healthcare professionals.
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