[The dignity of older people put to the test in critical care].

End-of-life care is often approached from the perspective of dignity and respect for autonomy, which enable individuals to choose how to spend their final moments. However, in a critical care setting, where older people may be incapable of making decisions or may become temporarily so due to an altered level of consciousness, the burden of decision-making falls on their loved ones and the medical team. How is dignity preserved when treatment choices clash with socio-cultural issues and the sometimes conflicting interests of those involved? Through short accounts drawn from a qualitative study conducted amongst nurses, we explore the concept of dignity in the context of futile medical treatment.