Death Is an Option: The Benefit of ICDs Is "Not as Big as We Think"

16th Nov 2006, 08:55 GMT

Patients and doctors grossly overestimate the benefits of implantable cardiac defibrillators, new studies show. Physicians must have candid discussions with their patients to quantify the true benefits of these devices, to explain that most people will still die from heart failure in the long run, and to raise the issue of advance directives, the researchers say. Heartwire Lisa Nainggolan