Can patients opt to turn off implantable cardioverter-defibrillators near the end of life?

Yes, it is reasonable to consider implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) deactivation if the patient or family wishes. Although ICDs prevent sudden cardiac death in patients with advanced heart failure, their benefit in terminally ill patients is small. More on this difficult decision, and a related commentary, can be found at the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine: https://www.ccjm.org/current-issue/issue-single-view/can-patients-opt-to-turn-off-implantable-cardioverter-defibrillators-near-the-end-of-life/09d58fc5bb0433f014c2406ad4b5f9f5.html.