Table 2 Ten elements that should be theoretically considered for decision to admit or not a patient in ICU

Patient

  Expresses wishes (advanced directives, patient’s healthcare proxy or family)

  Prognostic of acute disease and expected treatment benefits

  Potentially fatal advanced chronic diseases (comorbidities)

  Bad quality of life (before or estimated after the ICU stay)

  Frailty score

Family or proxy

  Information

  Witness of patient’s willing

Collegial decision-making procedure (physicians and other healthcare professionals)

External consultant having relevant expertise (general practitioner, referral specialist, intensivist from another unit)

Recording in the patient’s medical file