The report “Inquiry into the Options for Dying with Dignity” , discusses the meaning of palliative care for the patient and the family. The report suggests that when death becomes inevitable an approach that emphasises relief, rather than the prolonging of life, palliative care should be taken away . The explanation by Dr Margaret Somerville in her book “The Ethical Canary, Science, Society And The Human Spirit” , conveys the difficulty of people accepting the patient’s decision. Also, the confusion between withholding water and food for a patient whose life depends on it or a terminally ill patient is very different and she believes that many people have mistakenly equated the two…
Palliative care improves the quality of life patient and families, who face a life threating illness. This treatment takes into account the individuals emotional, physical, and spiritual needs, as well as the individuals surrounding them. Palliative may be a good option for a patient with a serious illness who needs assistance: managing pain, understanding and coping with his of her condition, and navigating the health care system. Facilitating the individual’s choice is vital to palliative care. However, the choice agenda challenges us to question what this truly means for palliative care now and in the future (Kite and Tate, 2005). This article will represent The Atlanta Journal Constitution, dated June 28, 2009, entitled System was deaf to pleas: mother died. This paper will provide sufficient background on the article and discuss the major point. Then, review the legal issues involve in the article law search. Concluding, the writer will discuss suggestion that could have been made.…
Last year 23 September 2012. I had a resident called “Mrs X” she was a 72year-old widowed living at ---, a Nursing Care Home. She’s not a religious type of person as she was Atheist. She has lived in the home for the past two years, and during that time I was assigned as her key worker. Mrs X had One Son and 3 grand daughters they are all regular visitors to the home. She has recently been diagnosed with renal failure, and her life expectancy is only a couple of months without dialysis. In the past Mrs X has made it clear that when her “time comes” she wants to be able to stay at Belmont House, and “go quietly”. She has stated that she does not want any treatment that will prolong her life. This means she has chosen not to accept dialysis.…
It is a necessity that nurses recognize their own feelings regarding death and dying and have a strong ethical framework in order to support the end-of-life wishes of their patients (Butts & Rich, 2013). Even if one is resolute in their own moral standing, cases such as Mr. T.’s may be emotionally exhausting.…
1.1 Every terminal illness will lead to end of life care, unless a sudden death or recovery occur’s, terminal cancer’s and lots of lung diseases lead to end of life care as the body degenerates, however mental disease can lead to end of life care, like dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and strokes as the damage to the brain will damage and cause the body to degenerate.…
“You think you the only one ever felt this way? You think I never felt this way? You think she never felt this way? Every last one of them back there one time in they life wanted to give up. She want to give up now. You know that?” – Reverend Ambrose, 216.…
Of all human stages of development and transition, none of them has profound effect and overwhelming disturbance as death. The surviving members of the deceased’s family and other close loved ones are always at a loss and the grieving that ensues thereafter is of untold emotional torment (Sherman et al., 2003). On the spiritual perspective, death is mourned with the recluse and thought of continuance of life after death. Death is increasingly being viewed as a rite of passage and is not a finality as previously perceived in the preceding ages of our current generations. However, this perspective is speculative in nature for there is no living human being that has marched on with the personal study of the afterlife and come back to life in human…
This essay is focused on end of life care and the importance it holds on issues relating to NMC code of conduct, looking into different legislations. To provide individuals with end of life care and help support them through their last months or years, can be one of the most rewarding services you can give them when they are ready to plan their care based on their needs and preferences. Depending on your care needs you will have support from different health care professionals, for example doctors, GPs, nurses and health care assistants. End of life care can start when the individual wishes it to, it can take place at home or in hospitals as well as other places based on their requirements, and these places are there to provide high quality…
According to the National Institute of Health, palliative care is "treatment of the discomfort, symptoms, and stress of serious illness. It provides relief from distressing symptoms including pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, problems with sleep, and the side effects of the medical treatments you are receiving." Palliative care is also known as comfort care.…
Nobody wants to die, but death is an inevitable and complex phenomena. To say goodbye to loved one is always difficult. In some cases, it is harder when death comes sooner than later by some serious diagnosis. I think the most important point that a health-care professional needs to consider on the subject of death, dying or grieving is to respect the wishes of patients and families. Health-care professionals should provide training and education about death, dying, and bereavement to the families. Also, healthcare providers should be familiar with the ethics and cultures of the patients and families which they belong to. Death, dying or grieving processes can be culturally or traditionally different among patients. “Some physicians can keep…
In nursing, the goal of care is usually to restore the patient back to the highest level of health possible. In some cases, however, the goals of care change when a curative approach is no longer appropriate. The new goals of care could simply be palliation and pain control rather than a restoration back to full health. This type of care is called palliative care. Palliative care is not the same as end-of-life care, but the two go hand-in-hand at times. The goal of end-of-life care is a “good” death, good being defined by the patient. Palliation is part of that “good” death. Both palliative care and end-of-life care are areas of patient care that can be highly sensitive for those involved. A nurse must be able to navigate these waters carefully. The physically and mentally exhaustive nature of illness and dying takes a huge toll on the patient and his/her family.…
Great spiritual, physical and emotional changes occur as an individual nears the end of a terminal illness, and hospice care is here to help you and your family deal with all of them. Hospice care helps both the individual and their family to cope changing care needs by offering emotional support as well as providing palliative care. Palliative care eases pain and makes the body's physical changes more comfortable. We are proud to support those confronting their illness with grace and dignity.…
Death is a touchy subject. People pretend it is something that does not happen and refuse to talk about or address it. I am an ICU nurse. I have been for six years. I have dealt with plenty of death, in my own way. Death is a part of life. Whether it is something that is expected or not, it is our destiny. Having dealt with the suicide of my son’s father at a young age, death is something most of us avoid or do not expect. One is never prepared for it. Some refuse to accept it and move forward.Whether it is a loved one battling cancer for multiple years or a sudden suicide/death, it is never acceptable. Working in the ICU, I have seen many a prolonged death. Family members are never prepared for the death of a loved one. Whether or not my patient is ready to move on, family will do everything possible to prolong the death in hopes that the patient’s condition will improve or a “new” cure will save their lives. I have gone through spending an hour resuscitating a 20 year old with severe congestive heart failure to taking my time resuscitating a 98 year old riddled with cancer. Regardless of my beliefs, it is never easy for family members to accept their loved ones are no longer among us. I have mixed views about death regarding a person battling cancer. Many a times I have had a patient who is a “full code,” all life saving efforts to be attempted, that has metastasis of cancer to their liver, brain, and bones requesting all life saving efforts. In the medical community, we know life saving efforts are futile. The patient is in so much pain they can hardly stand it. They have no quality of life. Family members are hopeful that some medication will take effect and the cancer will disappear. But, by law, we are to make every effort possible at resuscitation. If a person has a good prognosis in surviving cancer, every effort should be made to prolong the person’s life. If the cancer has metastized and is now affecting other organs, brain, bone…
Like many, I could use this opportunity to brag about my academic or extracurricular achievements, but in doing so I would be omitting a defining factor of my life thus far-anxiety. While not completely aware of it, I have spent a majority of my highschool career in a state of constant anxiety. Similar to others who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, I am prone to feeling overwhelmed when making decisions or presenting myself in communal settings. As a result, I found myself overwhelmed and struggling with the start of secondary school. My disquieted tendencies made me wary of expanding my comfort zone, in turn stunting my own personal growth over the past few years. Subsequently, I have spent a long time attempting to beat my anxiety.…
End of life care is one of the most taboo topics in American society as it requires those involved to acknowledge that their lives will eventually come to an end. Planning for such an outcome can be difficult but ultimately it is necessary in order to save others from dealing with the burden of end of life care while unprepared. As a nurse it is especially important to have a firm grasp of the many different factors that weigh in decisions related to end of life care and be ready to assist both the patient and his or her family in any way needed when that time may come. A careful examination of the resources available in a community to assist with this care, the gaps in care prevalent in American society today, the cultural…