Letter

Managing chronic diseases

BMJ 2005; 330 doi: 10.1136/bmj.330.7497.963-a (Published 21 April 2005)
Cite this as: BMJ 2005;330:963.2

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End of life is more than death

  1. Patrick White, senior lecturer (patrick.white@kcl.ac.uk)
  1. Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, King's College London, London SE11 6SP

    EDITOR—In advanced, non-malignant, chronic illness, the proximity of death and the inadequacy of treatment to prevent it change the patient's circumstances. Accurate prognosis may be impossible and that also influences the circumstances. Although doctor and patient may know death is approaching, planning is needed for a stage of life that could continue for a year or more. For example, two year survival …

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