5. End of life

Question 1

What makes a good death?

Answer 1

Communication
Patient, carers, relatives, healthcare team
Symptoms well controlled
Not distressing
Time to plan
Preferred lace of death

Question 2

What makes a bad death?

Answer 2

Poor communication
Perception of failure of healthcare team
Distressing symptoms
Sudden
Catastrophic event
No time to plan ahead or achieve goals
Disagreement

Question 3

How do you enhance quality of life?

Answer 3

Caring attitude by staff
Family visits
Physical environment
Maintaining control
Feeling safe/ not alone
Doing leisurely activities
Smoking

Question 4

How is quality of life reduced?

Answer 4

Loss of independence
Loss of activities
Pain/fear of pain
Feeling a burden

Question 5

What is collusion

Answer 5

When clinical staff and family members agree to not tell a patient things. Unless the family member holds power of attorney this is not allowed

Question 6

What is a DNACPR form?

Answer 6

A form written to disclose the patients intentions to not be resuscitated. It is not a legal document, just a show of the patients wishes.

Question 7

If a patient wishes to discontinue life-saving treatment do they have the right to?

Answer 7

yes, all patients have the right to say what treatment they wish or do not wish, unless they are deemed incapacitated. Continuing unwanted treatment is battery and is a criminal offence

Question 8

What are the arguments for euthanasia?

Answer 8

Suicide is badass (legal)
Withdrawing and withholding life prolonging treatment is widely accepted and practised
Suffering associated with some disease outweighs the benefits of continuing o live
Respect for patient autonomy

Question 9

What are the arguments against euthanasia?

Answer 9

Good palliative care reduces the need for euthanasia
Vulnerable patients are at risk
Slippery slope
Affects others rights not just the patients
Contrary to the aims of medicine