Download or read book Decisions in Hospice written by National Hospice Organization (U.S.). Ethics Committee and published by . This book was released on 1985 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Decision Making Near the End of Life written by James L. Werth Jr. and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2008-10-20 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Decision Making near the End of Life provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments that have impacted decision-making processes within the field of end-of-life care. The most current developments in all aspects of major underlying issues such as public attitudes, the impact of media, bioethics, and legal precedent provide the background information for the text. The authors examine various aspects of end-of-life choices and decision-making, including communication (between and among family, medical personnel, the dying person), advance directives, and the emergence of hospice and palliative care institutions. The book also explores a variety of psychosocial considerations that arise in decision-making, including religion/spirituality, family caregiving, disenfranchised and diverse groups, and the psychological and psychiatric problems that can impact both the dying person and loved ones. Case studies and first-person stories about decision-making, written by professionals in the field, bring a uniquely personal touch to this valuable text.

Download or read book Caring for Patients at the End of Life written by Timothy E. Quill and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2001-03-22 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Caring for Patients at the End of Life: Facing an Uncertain Future Together, Dr. Quill uses his wide range of clinical experience caring for severely ill patients and their families to illustrate the challenges and potential of end-of-life care. Section one utilizes the near death experiences of two patients to explore values underlying medical humanism, and then presents the case of "Diane" to explore the fundamental clinical commitments of partnership and non-abandonment. Section two explores, illustrates, and provides practical guidance for clinicians, patients, and families about critical communication issues including delivering bad news, discussing palliative care, and exploring the wish to die. In section three, difficult ethical and policy challenges inherent in hospice work, including the rule of double effect, terminal sedation, and physician-assisted suicide, are explored using a mix of real cases and an analysis of underlying clinical, ethical, and policy issues. In a final chapter, Dr. Quill discusses the tragic death of his brother which occurred as this book was being completed, and how his family made the most emotionally challenging decisions of their lives. Dr. Quill exposes readers to an internally consistent and practical way of thinking by simultaneously embracing the potential of palliative care, and also acknowledging that it has limitations. His philosophy of offering forthright discussions with patient and family, mutual decision-making, ensuring medical and palliative care expertise and of committing to see the dying process through to the patient's death is vividly illustrated.

Download or read book The Hastings Center Guidelines for Decisions on Life Sustaining Treatment and Care Near the End of Life written by Nancy Berlinger and published by . This book was released on 2013-07-11 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This major new work updates and significantly expands The Hastings Center's 1987 Guidelines on the Termination of Life-Sustaining Treatment and Care of the Dying. Like its predecessor, this second edition will shape the ethical and legal framework for decision-making on treatment and end-of-life care in the United States. This groundbreaking work incorporates 25 years of research and innovation in clinical care, law, and policy. It is written for physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals and is structured for easy reference in difficult clinical situations. It supports the work of clinical ethicists, ethics committee members, health lawyers, clinical educators, scholars, and policymakers. It includes extensive practical recommendations. Health care reform places a new set of challenges on decision-making and care near the end of life. The Hastings Center Guidelines are an essential resource.

Download or read book Dying in America written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2015-03-19 with total page 470 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For patients and their loved ones, no care decisions are more profound than those made near the end of life. Unfortunately, the experience of dying in the United States is often characterized by fragmented care, inadequate treatment of distressing symptoms, frequent transitions among care settings, and enormous care responsibilities for families. According to this report, the current health care system of rendering more intensive services than are necessary and desired by patients, and the lack of coordination among programs increases risks to patients and creates avoidable burdens on them and their families. Dying in America is a study of the current state of health care for persons of all ages who are nearing the end of life. Death is not a strictly medical event. Ideally, health care for those nearing the end of life harmonizes with social, psychological, and spiritual support. All people with advanced illnesses who may be approaching the end of life are entitled to access to high-quality, compassionate, evidence-based care, consistent with their wishes. Dying in America evaluates strategies to integrate care into a person- and family-centered, team-based framework, and makes recommendations to create a system that coordinates care and supports and respects the choices of patients and their families. The findings and recommendations of this report will address the needs of patients and their families and assist policy makers, clinicians and their educational and credentialing bodies, leaders of health care delivery and financing organizations, researchers, public and private funders, religious and community leaders, advocates of better care, journalists, and the public to provide the best care possible for people nearing the end of life.

Download or read book Approaching Death written by Committee on Care at the End of Life and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1997-10-30 with total page 457 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the end of life makes its inevitable appearance, people should be able to expect reliable, humane, and effective caregiving. Yet too many dying people suffer unnecessarily. While an "overtreated" dying is feared, untreated pain or emotional abandonment are equally frightening. Approaching Death reflects a wide-ranging effort to understand what we know about care at the end of life, what we have yet to learn, and what we know but do not adequately apply. It seeks to build understanding of what constitutes good care for the dying and offers recommendations to decisionmakers that address specific barriers to achieving good care. This volume offers a profile of when, where, and how Americans die. It examines the dimensions of caring at the end of life: Determining diagnosis and prognosis and communicating these to patient and family. Establishing clinical and personal goals. Matching physical, psychological, spiritual, and practical care strategies to the patient's values and circumstances. Approaching Death considers the dying experience in hospitals, nursing homes, and other settings and the role of interdisciplinary teams and managed care. It offers perspectives on quality measurement and improvement, the role of practice guidelines, cost concerns, and legal issues such as assisted suicide. The book proposes how health professionals can become better prepared to care well for those who are dying and to understand that these are not patients for whom "nothing can be done."

Download or read book Cancer Pain Management in Developing Countries written by Sushma Bhatnagar and published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. This book was released on 2018-06-29 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Publisher's Note: Products purchased from 3rd Party sellers are not guaranteed by the Publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product. A Comprehensive Handbook of Cancer Pain Management in Developing Countries Written by an international panel of expert pain physicians, A Comprehensive Handbook of Cancer Pain Management in Developing Countries addresses this challenging and vital topic with reference to the latest body of evidence relating to cancer pain. It thoroughly covers pain management in the developing world, explaining the benefit of psychological, interventional, and complementary therapies in cancer pain management, as well as the importance of identifying and overcoming regulatory and educational barriers.

Download or read book Physician Assisted Death written by James M. Humber and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 1994-02-04 with total page 159 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Physician-Assisted Death is the eleventh volume of Biomedical Ethics Reviews. We, the editors, are pleased with the response to the series over the years and, as a result, are happy to continue into a second decade with the same general purpose and zeal. As in the past, contributors to projected volumes have been asked to summarize the nature of the literature, the prevailing attitudes and arguments, and then to advance the discussion in some way by staking out and arguing forcefully for some basic position on the topic targeted for discussion. For the present volume on Physician-Assisted Death, we felt it wise to enlist the services of a guest editor, Dr. Gregg A. Kasting, a practicing physician with extensive clinical knowledge of the various problems and issues encountered in discussing physician assisted death. Dr. Kasting is also our student and just completing a graduate degree in philosophy with a specialty in biomedical ethics here at Georgia State University. Apart from a keen interest in the topic, Dr. Kasting has published good work in the area and has, in our opinion, done an excellent job in taking on the lion's share of editing this well-balanced and probing set of essays. We hope you will agree that this volume significantly advances the level of discussion on physician-assisted euthanasia. Incidentally, we wish to note that the essays in this volume were all finished and committed to press by January 1993.

Download or read book Ethical Dilemmas at the End of Life written by Kenneth J. Doka and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explores a range of issues--including pediatric hospice, historical, religious, spiritual and cultural perspectives on the end of life, hospice in nursing homes, surrogate decision making, physician assisted suicide, organ donation, and our society's legal tenants of end-of-life care. Includes an index.

Download or read book Do Not Resuscitate DNR Decisions in the Context of Hospice Care written by National Hospice Organization, 1991 Ethics Committee and published by . This book was released on 1992-09 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Hospice Experience written by Othniel Seiden and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-03-23 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Making the decision to use hospice is one of the most important final decision you ll ever make. Hospice is a blessing to those who avail themselves of the service. It is also a service to help their families and loved ones. However, as wonderful as hospice and its services are, the decision to use hospice is not a simple one. It, by its very nature, is an emotionally difficult decision to make. Because of our professional and personal experience with hospice, we were called to write this book to help you. Contents Purpose of This Book -Making the decision... 1. History of Hospice-How did it all get started? 2. When Should Hospice Be Considered?-What are the indications? 3. Finding a Hospice for Your Needs-Picking the right facility... . 4. What Questions Should Be Asked?-It s important you get all the fact to be satisfied... 5. What Is the Function of Hospice?-What you have the right to expect... . 6. Home Hospice-What to expect with home hospice... . 7. Hospice Facility Care-What to expect from in patient care... 8. The Hospice Team-Some of the most remarkable people you ll ever meet... 9. Hospice Care for the Patient - It s all about the patient... 10. Hospice Care for the Family -Family, friends and loved ones will find support too... 11. Hospice Care for Children -Care and support for the child patient or the child survivor of a dying parent... 12. Being a Caregiver-One of the hardest jobs you ll ever have... 13. After It s Over-No matter how prepared you are, you re never ready... 14. Bereavement-Grief is a difficult job you mustn t avoid it... 15. Facing Life- After the grief has been worked through engage in the renewed life your loved one would want you to live...

Download or read book Final Choices written by George M. Burnell and published by Da Capo Press, Incorporated. This book was released on 1993-03-21 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: He sensitively discusses many important concerns so as to facilitate such dialogue, for example: the questions to ask a doctor at the onset of illness; the fear of pain or physical deterioration (e.g., from AIDS or chemotherapy); the spiritual, legal, and financial counsel available to patient and family; the medical "choices" a patient may have in pursuit of a dignified death; the official documents to prepare (e.g., a living will, a power of attorney, a healthcare proxy) for the patient's last wishes; the possible merits of hospice care for the medical and spiritual benefits of patient and family. Featuring poignant case histories, Dr. Burnell describes in clear, nontechnical language the painful ethical and legal complications that surface when patients and families do not pursue the possibility of "do not resuscitate" (DNR) orders in lieu of life-prolonging measures. Unlike other books in the field, Final Choices does not underplay the dilemmas posed by modern medical technology.

Download or read book Pediatric Palliative Care written by Betty Ferrell and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pediatric palliative care is a field of significant growth as health care systems recognize the benefits of palliative care in areas such as neonatal intensive care, pediatric ICU, and chronic pediatric illnesses. Pediatric Palliative Care, the fourth volume in the HPNA Palliative Nursing Manuals series, highlights key issues related to the field. Chapters address pediatric hospice, symptom management, pediatric pain, the neonatal intensive care unit, transitioning goals of care between the emergency department and intensive care unit, and grief and bereavement in pediatric palliative care. The content of the concise, clinically focused volumes in the HPNA Palliative Nursing Manuals series is one resource for nurses preparing for specialty certification exams and provides a quick-reference in daily practice. Plentiful tables and patient teaching points make these volumes useful resources for nurses.

Download or read book End of Life Decisions written by Joseph T. Batuello and published by Virtual Bookworm.Com Pub Incorporated. This book was released on 2003-01-01 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The time in life when a person or their loved one confronts a serious or terminal illness is trying and stressful. Serious decisions must often be made on short notice and with a minimum of preparation. This time is often burdened by the emotional shock of impending death, and the associated grief. Many people are unprepared to face these trying circumstances and often have little understanding of the medical facts and options available to them.End-of-Life Decisions: A Practical Guide is a concise book designed to provide the relevant information that dying patients and loved ones need to deal with medical decisions and the end of life. It presents, in everyday language, the basic facts regarding end-of-life decision making, the relevant issues concerning mechanical ventilation and tube feeding, as well as discussions of hospice and palliative care, and pain control. This book omits academic discussions of philosophy and tangential anecdotes. When people are confronted with the imminent death of a loved one, they do not wish to wade through hundreds of pages of theory; they need concise facts and accurate information. That's exactly what End-of-Life Decisions provides.

Download or read book The Hospice Decision written by Randal J Salyer Rn and published by . This book was released on 2018-06-22 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Banish the fear and anxiety of facing the end of life, whether your own life or the life of someone you love. Part reference and part treatise on how to die, this book will help you take a deep dive into your own mind to gain the right perspective and clarify your goals so that you can make sound decisions and move forward with confidence, knowing what to expect, and how to process your thoughts and feelings. The Hospice Decision will arm you with the right information including: A powerful fable that shows you what works and what doesn't. Real-life stories and insights from years on the front lines of hospice. The process of dying. What to expect from your team. Clearing up the myths. Straight talk about tough decisions. Feeding at the end of life. Why CPR is not always appropriate.

Download or read book Euthanasia is Not the Answer written by David Cundiff and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 1992-07-17 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today's news is full of stories about "suicide machines," critical life-and-death decisions, who owns a person's life, death with dignity, prolonging painful life, and euthanasia as a justifiable release for terminally ill patients. And this year, California voters will be faced with a real life-and-death decision: the Euthanasia Initiative. Other states are expected to follow suit soon. Can euthanasia be accepted as a reasonable choice? Or must a patient's pain and suffering be prolonged in order to preserve life, without regard to the quality of that life? Are there viable alternatives? Can a patient in fact live out his or her days in relative comfort, with love and support from family, friends, and health care workers? A mind-opening new book from Humana Press, Euthanasia Is Not the Answer shows how terminally ill patients, especially those with cancer or AIDS, can live in comfort and dignity until death. The proper use of modern pain medications can ease the pain that drives them to despair and the request for euthanasia. And dedicated hospice care can allow them a meaningful life to the end. Written with intelligence, deep understanding based on the author's pioneering experience in hospice care--and, above all, sensitivity and respect--Euthanasia Is Not the Answer explores these alternatives, using case reports and powerful medical and socioeconomic analysis that soundly argue Dr. Cundiff's case. This important book adds new dimensions to our society's concern for the pain and suffering of the dying, clarifying the key issues associated with euthanasia and hospice, putting them into a new perspective, and showing that an approach based on easing pain and providing kind, caring support--rather than heroic high-tech medicine--is what is really needed for the terminally ill. Death with dignity can be a reality...without drastic measures!

Download or read book Navigating Life s Final Chapter written by Sarah Ellis and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2024-05-20 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As we explore the complexities of end-of-life care decisions, it's important to approach these discussions with a blend of sensitivity and pragmatism. The journey through making decisions that honor a loved one's final days, or even our own, is filled with emotional highs and lows, intricate medical information, and ethical considerations that many find daunting. This phase of life, although universally experienced, is frequently shrouded in uncertainty and discomfort when it comes to discussing it openly. The process of navigating end-of-life care doesn't have to be a solitary or overwhelming path. It's a journey that, when shared with compassion and understanding, can bring a sense of peace and fulfillment to what is an inherently difficult time. The chapters that lay ahead are designed to demystify the decisions and processes involved in end-of-life care, providing clear, actionable advice that respects the dignity and wishes of those at the center of care. Starting with an in-depth look at palliative care, we'll explore how this approach can offer relief and support, focusing on comfort rather than cure. Understanding hospice and the specialized care it provides will further illuminate options for ensuring quality of life in final days. Advance directives, a crucial aspect of planning, ensure that personal wishes are respected and followed, while discussions on evaluating treatment options and ethical dilemmas will guide families through the often-complex decision-making landscape. Consent and communication stand as pillars in navigating end-of-life care, emphasizing the importance of open dialogue and informed agreement on treatment and care plans. We'll delve into the emotional aspects of this journey, offering insights on coping with grief, legal and financial considerations, and the poignant process of creating a lasting legacy. Support doesn't end there; community resources, the role of spirituality, and even the integration of technology in palliative care provide additional layers of comfort and assistance. Navigating family dynamics, considering alternative therapies, and making informed choices on nutrition and hydration underscore the personalized nature of end-of-life care. Choices between home and hospice, creating meaningful memories, and preparing for the aftermath of loss are addressed with sensitivity and practicality. The guide also expands to special considerations such as pediatric end-of-life care, the challenges faced by veterans, and cultural competence in delivering respectful care across different backgrounds. By maintaining a focus on the comfort and dignity of those we care for, this guide is intended to be a beacon for those facing the inevitable but looking to do so with grace, love, and respect. It's a homage to the resilience of the human spirit and the shared experiences that bind us in the most challenging times. This is not just a pathway through medical decisions but a journey toward understanding, acceptance, and ultimately, peace in the transition from life to what lies beyond. As we continue, it's crucial to remember that while this guide aims to equip you with knowledge and support, it cannot replace the personalized advice and care from medical and legal professionals. Always seek expert guidance tailored to your specific situation, and use this as a complement to the professional care and support you receive. With that foundation, let's move forward together, navigating the complexities of end-of-life decisions with empathy, courage, and informed choice.