Year 3: End of Life Care Flashcards
What are the concepts of palliative care ?
End of life regardless of cause of illness.
Discussing patient’s wishes and try to accommodate them where possible.
What tool is used to asses if a patient is at a palliative stage ?
The Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool.
Palliative Performance Scale
What is the purpose of palliative care from the point of view of the WHO ?
Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
Intends neither to hasten nor postpone death
Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death
Offers a support system to help the family cope during the patients illness and in their own bereavement.
Uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counselling if indicated.
What members of the MDT can be involved in palliative care ?
Macmillan nurses
CLAN
Marie Curie Nurses
Religious or cultural groups
What can be defined as a good death ?
Pain free
Open acknowledgement of imminence of death.
Death at home surrounded by friends and family.
What are the core concepts in breaking bad news ?
Listen Set the Scene Find out what the patient understands Find out how much the patient wants to know Share information using a common language Review and summarise Allow opportunities for questions Agree follow up and support
What are the concepts around grief ?
Is an individual experience
Is a process that may take months or years
Patients may need to be reassured that they are normal
Abnormal or distorted reactions may need more help
Bereavement is associated with morbidity and mortality
What are the 3 ways euthanasia can be carried out ?
Voluntary Euthanasia - Patients request.
Non-voluntary euthanasia - No request
Physician assisted suicide - Physician provides the means and advice for suicide
What are some responses you can have to the person receiving the bad news ?
Listen Acknowledge the issue Explore the reasons for the request Explore ways of giving more control to the patient Look for treatable problems Remember spiritual issues Admit powerlessness
