The American College of Cardiology ACC American Heart Association AHA and the Heart Rhythm Society HRS have jointly published new guidelines for the management of adults who have ventricular arrhythmias or who are at risk for sudden cardiac death including diseases and syndromes associated with a risk of sudden cardiac death from ventricular arrhythmias. According to the guidelines patients considering implantation of a new ICD or replacement of an existing one should be informed of their individual risk of sudden cardiac death and nonsudden death from heart failure or noncardiac conditions and the effectiveness and potential complications of the ICD. In patients nearing the end of life from other illness clinicians should discuss ICD shock deactivation as they reassess their patients goals and preferences. Emphasizing on the role of shared decision making between patients and their doctors the guidelines say that treatment decisions should also take into consideration the health goals preferences and values of the patients. The 2017 AHA ACC HRS Guideline for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death have been published online October 30 2017 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology Circulation and HeartRhythm. Source ACC News Release October 30 2017