Nurses’ experiences of suicide attempts in palliative care

Objectives: To describe nurses’ experiences of caring for individuals who have attempted suicide in specialized palliative care and to describe if the care of these individuals changed after the suicide attempt. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive study was conducted. Nine nurses working in specialized palliative care units were interviewed following a semi-structured interview guide. Conventional content […]

Assessing the will to live: A scoping review

Context The will to live is an important factor to consider in the context of providing resource-oriented palliative care. Until now, there has been no major review of the existing research on this subject. Objectives The primary objective of this study is to summarize the state of research concerning instruments that assess the will to […]

Suicidal ideation in the palliative care patient: Considerations for health care practice

For the clinician who works in a palliative health care setting, the suicidal ideation of palliative care patients is a challenge. How are patients with a life-limiting illness who wish to hasten their death, and who express this suicidal ideation, understood in the context of Palliative Care? The present article is a systematic literature review […]

Developing organizational guidelines for the prevention and management of suicide in clients and carers receiving palliative care in Australia.

This article describes the process of developing a suicide guideline in palliative care. Little literature was available, but utilizing the partnership model, a working party consulted with each discipline regarding specific requirements. The working party experienced significant challenges in creating policy that would adequately cover the diverse needs of all members of the palliative care […]

A terminal diagnosis: The carers’ perspective.

This qualitative study explored the views of spouse carers in relation to the emotional impact of caring for a partner with a chronic or terminal illness. Findings indicate that these carers experienced a whole range of feelings and emotions, which impacted on their health and well-being. They included fatigue, stress, distress, anxiety, depression, feelings of […]

Causes of death among an urban homeless population considered by the medical examiner.

Those who are homeless face illness and death, however, live in places not conducive to provision of end-of-life care. Limited information exists on causes of death among this group of people. To characterize causes of death, data were requested from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for Alberta Justice, Canada, for people determined to […]

Doctors Must not Kill (IN: Euthanasia: the Good of the Patient, the Good of Society, ed. by R I Misbin)

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A Physician’s Responsibility to Help a Patient die (IN: Euthanasia: the Good of the Patient, the Good of Society, ed. by R I Misbin)

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A Better way to die

Decisions Near the end of Life

Doctor, I Want to die. Will you Help me?

The law Regarding Assisted Dying for the Terminally ill in the UK

This article outlines the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill in the United Kingdom. The conditions that must be satisifed before an attending physician can assist a patient to die are highlighted & information regarding the declaration is provided. Third-party commentary is made on the Bill, comparing & constrasting it with legislation in The […]

People Should not Have to Resort to Assisted Suicide

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Canadian Physicians and Euthanasia: 2. Definitions and Distinctions

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Palliative Care for Children

This statement presents an integrated model for providing palliative care for children living with a life-threatening or terminal conditions. It offers guidance on responding to requests for hastening death, although the American Academy of Pediatrics does not support the practice of physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia for children. (38 refs)

Commentary: the Case Against Physician-Assisted Suicide: for the Right to End-of-life Care

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Commentary: a Victory for Patients

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End of Life Issues in Older Patients

This article focuses on palliative care & symptom management in the elderly patient with cancer, advance directives & treatment preferences, where & how elderly patients are cared for, & suicide. (66 refs)

The Social Basis of Loss and Grief: age, Disability and Sexuality

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Canadian Perspectives on Death and Dying (IN: Death and Bereavement Around the World, vol.2: The Americas, ed. by J D Morgan and P Laungani)

Grief in Panama (Death and Bereavement Around the World, vol.2: The Americas, ed. by J D Morgan and P Laungani)

In this study, the author describes the mourning process in Panama; the rituals, beliefs, & customs associated with death & the inevitable loss of our loved ones. She presents this study in a manner that describes how each province & ethnic group ritualizes death & initiates the grieving process in Panama.

Death in Colombia (IN: Death and Bereavement Around the World, vol.2: The Americas, ed. by J D Morgan and P Laungani)

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Palliative Care & Euthanasia in The Netherlands: Observations of a Dutch Physician (IN: The Case Against Assisted Suicide, ed. by K Foley & H Hendin)

The author describes working in palliative care in The Netherlands, where its development has been severely hampered by the easy availability of euthanasia. He profiles the different types of patients requesting euthanasia, which fall into 5 categories: Afraid, Burned-out, Control Oriented, Depressed, & Extreme. The doctor’s own hospice care is discussed, & the social cost […]