A Good Death

Question 1

What are the key objectives of palliative care?

Answer 1

Ensure dignity, autonomy, avoidance of harm, ensuring symptom control, spiritual support and psychological support. To consider the patient as a whole and its their decision how they want to be managed and where they want to do.

Question 2

Define palliative care.

Answer 2

Care for someone with a life-threatening, progressive, incurable disease which is far advanced with a limited prognosis and the focus of care is on quality of life.

Question 3

What are the challenges in palliative care?

Answer 3

1. Truthfulness.
2. Informed consent.
3. Prepare the patient.
4. Isolated.
5. Wall fo silence.
6. Give them hope and a reason to go on.

Question 4

How can we define a good death?

Answer 4

Through recognition of the transition point to palliative care.
Futility: where curative treatments is continued where there is no prospect of success and prolongation of life..
Ensuring you negotiate a management plan (involve family if patient agrees).
It is important to take a HOLISTIC APPROACH.

Question 5

What can hospice care provide?

Answer 5

1. Symptom relief.
2. Emotional support.
3. Respite Care for the carer.
4. Physical support.
5. Spiritual support.

Question 6

What are the 5 stages of anticipatory grief?

Answer 6

1. Anger.
2. Denial.
3. Bargaining.
4. Depression.
5. Acceptance/resignation.

Question 7

Define euthanasia.

Answer 7

Practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering.

Question 8

What is the current stance of England about euthanasia?

Answer 8

BMA and GMC don’t agree with it. Autonomy cannot justify the harm.

Question 9

What. are the ethics of euthanasia?

Answer 9

Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-maleficence and Justice. Non-maleficence vs autonomy.