Dying in intensive care: An analysis of the perspectives of families and clinicians on end-of-life care

Lovell, Tania; Mitchell, Marion; Powell, Madeleine; Tonge, Angela; Strube, Petra; O'Neill, Kylie; Dunstan, Elspeth; Bonnin-Trickett, Amity; Miller, Elizabeth; Suliman, Adam; Ownsworth, Tamara; Ranse, Kristen

doi:10.1016/j.aucc.2022.07.004

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Timely communication reduces ambiguity around transitioning to end-of-life care and the practical aspects of weaning or withdrawing life-sustaining interventions and administering appropriate symptom-relieving medications that nurses are frequently responsible for undertaking. 16 However, in addition to being clinically appropriate, nurses must also be confident that the decision is legally correct. Actioning a decision that is inconsistent with the law does not meet current nursing standards for practice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This may suggest that as medical practitioners are usually responsible for guiding end‐of‐life discussions and leading decision‐making, RNs rely on them to know who has decision‐making authority, and when a decision has been made, to communicate it promptly. Timely communication reduces ambiguity around transitioning to end‐of‐life care and the practical aspects of weaning or withdrawing life‐sustaining interventions and administering appropriate symptom‐relieving medications that nurses are frequently responsible for undertaking 16 . However, in addition to being clinically appropriate, nurses must also be confident that the decision is legally correct.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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End‐of‐life decision‐making in the emergency department and intensive care unit: Health professionals' perspectives on and knowledge of the law in Queensland

Hewitt,

Alsaba,

May

et al. 2024

Emerg Medicine Australasia

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ObjectiveTo investigate ED and intensive care unit healthcare professionals' perspectives and knowledge of the law that underpins end‐of‐life decision‐making in Queensland, Australia.MethodsAn online survey with questions about perspectives, perceived, and actual, knowledge of the law was distributed by the professional organisations of medical practitioners, nurses and social workers who work in Queensland EDs and intensive care units.ResultsThe survey responses of 126 healthcare professionals were included in the final analysis. Most respondents agreed that the law was relevant to end‐of‐life decision‐making, but that clinician and family consensus mattered more than following the law. Generally, doctors' legal knowledge was higher than nurses'; however, there were significant gaps in the knowledge of all respondents about the operation of advance health directives in Queensland.ConclusionsThe legal framework that supports end‐of‐life decision‐making for adults who lack decision‐making capacity has been in place for more than two decades. Despite frequently being involved in making or enacting these decisions, gaps in the legal knowledge of healthcare professionals who work in EDs and intensive care units in Queensland are evident. Further research to better understand how to improve knowledge and application of the law is warranted.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%