End of Life Flashcards
Who decides what is a good death
Patient
What has changed the concepts of a good death
Faith cultures
Individualist society
Promotion of personal autonomy
Name 5 factors which make a good death
Communication (with patient and relatives) Symptoms well controlled Not distressing Time to plan Preferred place of death
Name 6 factors which make a bad death
Poor communication Perception of failure of healthcare team Distressing symptoms Sudden Catastrophic event Not time to plan or achieve goals Disagreement
Where do the majority of people die
Hospital
Where do the majority of people WANT to die
At Home
What can improve a persons quality of life
Caring attitude of staff Family visits Physical environment Maintaining control Feeling safe/ not alone Art sessions
What can decrease a persons quality of life
Lost independence
Lost activities
Pain/ fear of pain
Feeling a burden
What is collusion
A secret agreement made between clinicians and family members to hide the diagnosis of a serious or life-threatening illness from the patient
Why may a family want to collude
Patient may lose hope
Leads to depression
Hastens progression of the illness and death
Increase risk of patient suicide
