Fig. 3

Temporal changes in treatment policies in patients with brainstem reflex [-]/[ +]. At the time of diagnosis (Dx) on patients’ neurological status, a large number of the patients were those whose families wished to withhold life-sustaining treatment in both brainstem reflex [-] and [ +] groups. In patients with brainstem reflex[-], the ratio of three treatment policies (i.e., aggressive treatment, withholding, withdrawal) conducted after the final decision did not differ from that requested at the time of Dx (left). In the brainstem reflex[ +] group, however, the proportion of the treatment policies tended to be altered during 16 [6–38] days (median, IQR), with a decreasing tendency of the aggressive life-sustaining treatment (right)